We are not Immortal; Life lessons On The Road

Similar to other topics teenagers often have the mentality, “It will never happen to me”. Whether it is unprotected sex or looking at a phone while driving, teens think that they are immune to the detrimental consquences. This is a dangerous thought process, but can partially be corrected with education. Taking a drivers education course before anyone gets their license can make a difference between life or death. It gives the opportunity to hear statistics, see pictures or meet someone who experienced a tragedy. It gives a sense of accountability, and allows the student to hear the repercussions of their actions. Schools should require a driver’s education course Freshman year. Just as English 1 is required to graduate, so should this. It teaches vital rules and regulations that not all parents cover before their child gets on the road. Although students may not heed the advice it at leasts provides a strong foundation of knowledge. In addition to the attitude about driving, laws and regulations need to be updated. Recently states have been enforcing the no hand held use of cell phones law. States like Utah have deemed it illegal to hopefully cut down on minor and major accidents. Other states, like Alaska, have a driving curfew for teenagers. From 1-5am driving is prohibited, excluding trips to work, school, or in an emergency situation.

I have personally been in 3 car accidents. One when I was in elementary school and my babysitter was turned around asking if we were okay. The distraction of 3 noisy kids caused us to slam into the car in front of us. Another, this time the blame on myself, I took a turn on an icy side road and slid into a snowbank. The third was an icy afternoon and while completely stopped another car slid into me. This proved to me that car accidents can be caused by an infinite amount of things. Lucky enough, they don’t all have different solutions. There are simple tips that apply to all drivers and situations. Technology is a gift and a curse, a tip that has helped me be more focused on the road is putting away my phone. I que my music and put my phone in the passenger seat, this way text messages or snapchats are hid away. Another tip that I learned in my drivers education class was to always be 3 “locomotion” seconds behind the car in front of me. In the best conditions it takes 6 seconds to stop(when going 55mph), so that will give you plenty of time to anticipate your stop and execute it safely. Safe driving starts in your driver seat. It is a personal decision to drive safely and that decision impacts everyone on the road. Any risky move or speedy turn could end in disaster and plague you with lifetime regret. Thinking beyond yourself and acknowledging others safety is not just applicable to driving. These life lessons learned in drivers ed and on the road can be applied anywhere.