Driving Lives

Driving Lives

When teenagers or adults get behind the wheel sometimes their only concern is getting to their destination as soon as possible or having a “good time,” but that mindset has resulted in deaths while driving. Driver education prevents the number of deaths as a result of driving because it ensures the driver is responsibly aware of the law and rules of the road in order to protect the lives of others along with theirs. Drivers are taught the correct way to park at different degrees, speed limits, signals, the meaning of road signs, and awareness of their surroundings. To reduce the number of deaths related to driving there should be a greater emphasis on the effect the driver has on the lives of other people. The irresponsible driving of older teenagers or adults with their driver’s license comes from an overconfident trust in themselves that they won’t get hurt or that they don’t care if they get hurt. Although, if the focus is changed from the welfare of their own being to the welfare of other teenagers, adults, elders, and children the pressure to drive better is higher because people do not want to be held responsible for hurting someone or being the cause of another’s death. Beginning this shift of focus can begin with teaching drivers the fines of certain actions, the legal consequences crashing into someone and causing their death, and making them watch a video of someone who was affected by reckless driving.

I have never been in a car accident from my own recollection, but I have been in the car with friends who drove irresponsibly. As an older teenager about to turn 18, many of my peers act childish because they think their youth is passing by quickly and they have to make the most of it with irresponsible actions. When I was a sophomore I got rides with people from a 19 year old guy but sometimes at night he would speed in the 90s (mph) through what appeared to be empty streets because he had a sports car. Although he never crashed with us in the car, the inability to see the street clearly and knowing he was willing to endanger other people’s lives and mine for the short thrill still makes me uncomfortable. On my part, to become a better and safer driver I will work on being more patient on the freeway by trying not to pass many cars but instead staying at their speed, and letting pedestrians cross the sidewalk first even when they tell me to go in order to ensure they cross safely. I plan to help teenagers my age and other adults become safer drivers by staying below the speed limit even if they are trying to make me go faster, and if I am in the car with someone, reminding them of the safety of others including myself. When people begin to completely value their lives knowing each one holds worth then that’s when I believe love and care for the safety of others will make the road a much safer place.