Driving with Awareness Saves Lives

Emily Pham-Nguyen

30 hours of classes, 6 hours of observations, and 12 hours of driving; these are the general requirements of the driver’s education courses in certain stages. Is this enough? Or is it not enough? Driver’s Ed is a serious part of young teenagers’ education. They are not only learning how to drive a car, but how to keep themselves and others safe. Knowing the rules and laws of driving can greatly impact the lives of people. Studying the laws for the permit or road test may seem like a temporary occurrence that will be forgotten, but it is something that can save lives. Basic knowledge of driving rules can help drivers understand the importance of those rules. They are not just there as precautions for drivers, but things in the environment surrounding them such as pedestrians. This can help prevent unnecessary deaths that result in car crashes. It is the simple task of being well educated on the safety rules of the road that can save people’s lives.

There are many steps that not only young teens can take, but well-seasoned drivers as well. One example is to always keep a vigilant eye while driving. While one cannot control the actions of others, they can keep their awareness sharp to see everything happening in their surroundings to drive safely. Especially with the possibility of rouge cars or jaywalkers. Another example is to always drive without distractions. This can range from talking with friends in the car or even texting. Distracted driving is a major red flag in the rules. One always wants to notice their surroundings while driving. Even if they are the best driver, a phone is a highly distracting device. One may think they can multitask while driving, but one split second of unawareness can mean the difference between life or death. It is best to keep a phone out of sight to be out of mind. That way the brain will be solely focused on driving. A third example is to avoid driving under the influence. This either being due to alcohol or drugs. Driving drunk or high may seem like a possibility to some people, but in reality, it dulls the senses. That can lead to dangerous driving and that is why DUI is not the most common cause of car crashes. This can simply be avoided with a designated driver. It is always better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to the lives of innocents.

There was a time when I was in my mother’s car after picking my brother up from school. We were about to turn left out onto the main road, but the problem was that there were no left turns allowed. This was because of the traffic problems during after school pick up. My mother took a risk and turned left to get home faster for one doctor’s appointment. Even though she thought she was doing it for the right reasons, it was still a show of irresponsible driving. Breaking that rule could have led to serious problems if something happened. There could have been a possibility that she might have cut a car off and caused them to swerve. And since it happened around a school, there could have been a high possibility of a child being inside. At the moment, there might not be a clear consequence, but why take the risk? Rules are made to be in place for our safety.

As a driver, I want to improve my habits by keeping my phone out of reach. I know that when I hear a notification, I will want to reach for it. But I know that I cannot drive safely for my sake and others. I also know that I need to keep my mind at the moment to not get distracted. I cannot let my mind wander to other thoughts and miss important details in my surroundings. I hope to help my friends to drive safely as well since we are all teen drivers. It is better to have a friend keep quiet in the car so the driver can keep the focus on their task rather than distracting them. Having a second pair of eyes in the car can also help with awareness. A driver’s education is no joke, it is a serious business that can have a major impact on every single person’s life. It is the difference between coming home safely to loved ones or being in a hospital. So always remember, driving with awareness saves lives!