In the Driver’s Seat

In the Driver’s Seat

Driving is one of the many things young children look forward to when they turn fifteen or sixteen years old. When a young teen becomes fifteen they can begin the fun process of getting their driving permit and when they turn sixteen ultimately getting their license. Although this is an extremely important milestone in an adolescent’s life, it is extremely crucial that the young teen understands the rules of the road and drives safely.

Driver’s education is an extremely important factor in trying to reduce the number of preventable traffic deaths every year. When drivers know the rules of the road and what to do when they are put into certain situations then deaths may be more preventable. The more a person knows, the better off they will be. Usually once a person gets behind the wheel and they get more comfortable with driving is when problems can arise. Many drivers that know the stories of other drivers dying in tragic car accidents do not believe that they would ever be in one of those situations. This type of mentality becomes extremely detrimental because driver’s tend to get distracted more easily. Not only does education help prevent deaths, but so does limiting distractions and driving with a clear mindset. The most common distraction is obviously a cell phone. Car accidents caused by texting and driving is thought to be about 25% of all car accidents in the United States. It seems like the more generations that are welcomed into the world, the younger they are exposed to technology. This exposure to technology at such a young age allows a child to become addicted to it so when a child turns into a teenager this addiction is so great that they cannot put down their phones. In the mind of a teenager it is a natural response to pick up their phone as soon as it rings. This natural response becomes deadly when the teenager begins to drive. Limiting the use of a phone while driving will greatly reduce the number of lives ended due to things of trivial importance. Another way of limiting the number of preventable deaths is to drive with a clear state of mind. Drivers should be well rested and in a good mental state before getting behind a wheel. Once a person does get behind a wheel then they have made a commitment to risk their lives as well as the lives of others on the road with them. If a driver knows the rules of the road as a teenager, then those same principles will carry over into adulthood.

I have heard lots of stories from many of my friends and family about someone they know involved in a tragic car accident. Some of these deaths may have been preventable, but the pain remains the same no matter the case. To be honest I consider myself very blessed to not personally know anyone that has lost their life due to a car accident; however, I do know that lives can be taken in a split second and I do have a personal experience with tragedy that involves a different motor vehicle. Although I do not know anyone personally who has lost their life due to a car accident, my father lost one of his best friends and has drilled that story into my head. He has told me the story multiple times throughout my young life, so it feels as though I can relate. The short version of the story goes like this, a young boy and his dad were driving home from a softball game when they were hit by a drunk driver. The drunk driver ran a stop sign and hit the side of his best friend’s car. His best friend was ejected from the car because he was not wearing a seatbelt which resulted in his immediate death, and his father was crushed inside the vehicle which ultimately killed him. Although these deaths could not have been totally prevented, the young boy should have been wearing a seatbelt which could have ultimately changed his fate. On the other hand, the drunk driver should never have been behind the wheel in the first place. Driving under the influence is estimated to be about 28% of all traffic related deaths in the United States alone. In order for me personally to be a better and safer driver, I choose to always remember to set my phone down in a place that I am not tempted to touch, wear my seatbelt, and drive with a clear state of mind. I think in order to help others stay safe on the road they should be educated on the consequences of irresponsible driving.

Knowing the rules of the road at a young age will better the driver the older they get. There is a big reason why driver’s ed is taught to teenagers before they are allowed to attempt to get their license. The rules must be learned to ensure the safety of themselves and others. Car accidents cannot always be prevented, but it is best to do our part to try and reduce the number of lives that are taken every day. Always remember to click it or ticket it.