Responsibility in the Driver’s Seat

Everyday millions of Americans journey onto the tarmac to travel from place to place. Most hop into their car without a second thought of the danger that lurks on the other side of the white and yellow lines. At the age of sixteen, teens run to the DMV office in order to obtain a sense of freedom through their license. They feel that they have taken a step into adulthood where they do not need to ask their parents for rides anymore. At least I know that was how I felt. In adolescence, teens long for a sense of belonging as they begin to transition from childhood to adulthood. Their license allows them this tangible aspect of freedom. When a teen gets this physical certificate of freedom, they feel on top of the world. With their new sense of power, they are invincible, that is until they are not. As the new driver turns out of their neighborhood (on a newfound high) they come to an intersection with a red-light. They pull their head up for a second, seeing that the light is yellow and think, “I can make it,” until they are in the middle of the intersection after colliding with oncoming traffic because they, in fact could not make it. Another driver hops into the car after rushing out the door hoping to have time to stop for coffee. On their way to their destination, they decide to put in an online order only to look up from their phone to see their car, swerving into the other lane after hopping the median, and suddenly they brace for impact. As the events settle with them, they are asked if it was worth it. Was that online coffee order worth it? Was that Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram story, text, was any of that worth an injury, a life? They come to the conclusion that no it was not worth it. While many know the dangers of car accidents, multiple drivers have a tendency to get caught up in a moment and do not fully understand that their split-second decision can have life ending consequences.

Driver education allows young and inexperienced drivers the opportunity to learn about the risks of operating a vehicle. In everything there must be a period of learning, before a child can walk, they must first crawl, before someone can multiply and divide, they must be able to add and subtract. In the same way before a teen can learn to drive a motorized vehicle, they must learn the how, what, and why of the operation of such a machine. Driver education should allow for not only classroom learning, but also behind the wheel interaction. The classroom portion of driver education aids in demonstrating the ideals of conducting an automobile and the warnings of reckless driving. Taking an eye off of the road for even a second can lead to catastrophic damage, but most new drivers do not understand the weight of this implication. The behind the wheel portion of driver education presents inexperienced drivers with real life experience of operating a vehicle. Driver education should also include the parents or guardians aiding in teaching safety of driving a vehicle. Although perfection never comes when driving a vehicle because no situation will ever be identical, practice and an excess of caution can allow driver’s to be prepared for and to be safe in real-life situations. If drivers understand the responsibility entrusted to them through their license, then they are more likely to drive safely. If trained properly on the safety of operating a vehicle, then reckless driving starts to be fought by a generation of drivers. In order to prevent reckless driving and ensure safety in our streets everyone must be cautious of the power that they hold when they get behind the wheel. Through this preparation drivers are more likely to be cautious.

I have seen many friends drive recklessly not only risking their lives, but others’ lives as well. This engraves into me the impact that driver education has on curving reckless driving. I have friends and family members who have had horrible car accidents causing pain and heartache. These stories encourage me and help me to encourage others to be safe drivers or to take steps to become safe drivers. I know many stories of friends and family members being in tragic car accidents due to reckless driving. In one scenario a family friend was turning out of her neighborhood when an eighteen-wheeler ran a red-light and T-boned her. She woke up hours later needing to have emergency surgery on her leg and wondering if she would ever be able to walk again. Thankfully, after many months of recovery, rest, and PT she was able to walk. I know other stories where teens rode with reckless driving friends only to end up in a flipped car on the side of the road in a ditch. In these stories, most of the teens came out of the car accident with a few scratches and bruises; however, others were transported to the hospital and some did not even receive that luxury. When all of this is said, driving does not seem like such a walk in the park. When a split-second decision can be the difference between life or death it makes an individual rethink their ability to drive. Continued cautiousness and a recognition of power aids as steps for drivers to become safer as they journey onto the road. Driver education is important because it helps to curate the next generation of drivers to be safer and more cautious about their actions. In the end everyone is responsible for his or her actions; however, educating new or inexperienced drivers helps them to understand their responsibility in order to put an end to reckless driving. Through educating drivers on the dangers of operating a car, reckless driving and driver deaths should be reduced due to increased cautiousness. This education should also aid in making drivers aware of the power that they hold between their hands when they get behind the wheel. As drivers venture onto the road, I hope that we all make the active decision to be cautious and safe through the acknowledgement of the responsibility we hold.