Drive Safe

Teens, due to their maturity and patience level, are statistically worse drivers and more likely to get into accidents then people over the age of 25. Drivers Ed classes are required to be taught in Chesapeake Public Schools, but are not taken too seriously by either the teachers or the students. To students here, this is just a required class along with PE that is easy to pass, so just pass it so I can get the green card to give to my driver’s school. If this class was to be taken more seriously and made more requirements in order to receive the green card, teens will be more likely to be more cautious on the road. Although, the chance that a teen that is immature and risky that will cause an accident will not be zero, the chance that a teen that takes risks seriously will be less likely to be in an accident.

Drunk driving and using electronics while driving are the highest causes of fatal accidents in America. Phone companies have actually made steps to prevent accidents, including a “Do Not Disturb” mode, which will mute all of one’s notifications while they drive. Car companies have also incorporated onto newer models a way to connect to one’s phone through Bluetooth, and he or she can call somebody by using voice-to-text and can even play music and change songs without using his or her phone. Setting up a phone to a car does not take any more than 5 minutes, because I, personally, do this with my car to reduce my risk of being in an accident.

I have never been in an accident with somebody that was caused by irresponsible driving from them, but one of my family members have been in an accident that was caused by them being irresponsible. My stepmother was texting somebody while she was driving in her car when she came to a stoplight. The light was green when she had saw it before she looked at her phone, but had turned red without her noticing. Somebody was turning left, and she had drove out and hit the car pulling out. She ended up flipping the other person’s car and experienced minor injuries herself. Luckily, nobody got severely injured nor did anyone die, but it was a grace from God that everybody survived and didn’t suffer any bad or life changing injuries.

In order to prevent major accidents, people need to take precautions and make sure they are capable to drive. If you are going out to drink with friends, then make sure one does not have anything to drink so they are sober enough to drive everybody home without getting into an accident. If you are going to go out by yourself and drink, drink water to sober yourself up before driving, and if you still are incapable of driving, call an Uber and have somebody help you pick up your car. If you are going out with friends to the mall and you are going out with them, silence your phone and meet up with them when you get there. Responding to messages can wait, and your health and safety is much more important.