The Importance of Carefulness When Driving

The Importance of Carefulness When Driving

Driver education is exceptionally crucial in the learning process of teens. There were about 2,526 teen drivers killed in 2017. Also, automobile accidents are the leading cause of death for teens. These facts from Edgar Snyder are, to be quite frank, scary. If this is the leading cause of death, then it is paramount to find the best strategies to help teens drive safely.

Some of these ways can include but are not limited to speeches from other teenagers involved in accidents. Those speakers could relate to students in a way driver education teachers can’t. Another way could include speeches from famous people and role models for teens. The students will be more likely to pay closer attention because of the respect they have for them. Also, we should continue to show teens the statistics of driving deaths not to scare them but to influence them. Lastly, parents need to display consistent practices of good driving because your kids watch and learn from you. It is up to the parents whether they will learn righteous or harmful practices.

I have been affected by the teenage driving issue myself. My uncle has been riding a motorcycle for many years. Motorcycles have always had a bad stigma for being unsafe, but many still enjoy riding them. I never thought anything of it. Although, when you get the call that he was in a terrible accident, it can change your world. A younger kid drove off a ramp and crossed two lanes into the path of my uncle. Witnesses said my uncle went airborne before sliding several feet on the cement pavement. He had a broken right femur, microfractures in his right foot and ankle, a broken nose, and lost some of his lip. His face required plastic surgery from being road burned, and yes, he was wearing a helmet. A teenage driver, in his carelessness, caused all these issues.

Also, one of my best friends, Kai Burkett, died in a car accident this year when he was driving home later in the night on wet roads. Witnesses said that when he moved to miss a branch, he must have lost control swerving into the other lane into a truck that instantly killed him. Kids from all around the area that he played sports against came to his funeral. Also, families and parents that he knew came to his funeral. The number resulted in over 2,000 people that were at his viewing. All of these people were sad that he only lived to his senior year in this tragic death. That was a heart-wrenching loss for me and was a shock to everyone in the area.

These accidents can dramatically affect the families and friends of the people involved in them. With these terrible experiences, though, I have learned to continue to be extra careful. No matter how much time it may take to be careful, it is worth it, as it could effectively prevent accidents. If we all obey the driving laws to the best of our ability and create better habits, we can finally change the statistic for the leading cause of death in teens and limit accidents while creating a better and safer world.