Do Your Part and Drive Smart

Regi Pasby

Do Your Part and Drive Smart

Driver Education is important in reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving because teenagers are very immature, and when they have no driver education, they will be dangerous on the road. Kids think it is cool to text and drive, and it is not a big deal to swerve off the road for a little bit when no one is around. It only takes one of these incidents to kill a family in the opposing car, or someone’s brother, sister, parent, or grandparent. Apple has tried to stop texting with a phone lock while the owner is driving, but that did not work out very well because they gave the user an option to shut it off while they are driving. Other steps we can take is being more strict with people texting and driving. I do not see many people get pulled over because they are on their phones, eating, or being distracted in another way. Newer cars are also taking safety measures by braking automatically when too close to someone or beeping when cars are too close to switch lanes which helps a lot of people, but most teenagers will not have that expensive car, and they are the ones who need those safety precautions. There are also many teenagers who drink and drive or drive home while drunk after a party. I know not to drink and drive because, in my Cowboy Driving class, we watched videos of car accidents that were the results of irresponsible driving. Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and other apps should play those videos instead of ads while people use their apps. This could make teenagers rethink their decisions and be more responsible when driving, which will limit the number of deaths by car accidents. Last year, my friend Tatum and I got in a car wreck after our softball game because we were trying to race one of our teammates. It was a very stupid decision and luckily none of us got hurt. After experiencing that wreck, I do not make bad decisions while driving. Many people end up drinking and driving because after they get a designated driver, that driver will arrive at the party or bar and decide to drink. We have had Uber and Lyft for a while now, but in small towns, there are not many of them, so people who should not drive end up driving. I think we need more Uber and Lyft drivers in areas where there are very few. Immature teenagers make many irresponsible decisions that could cost innocent families or people their lives. There need to be videos posted on social media or pictures on billboards of bad car wrecks caused by irresponsible driving. To become a safer driver, I can place my phone out of sight while driving, not eat and drive, not let my friends distract me while driving, and not drink and drive. I can help my friends be safer on the road while driving by setting a good example and being responsible for my friends when they are not being smart. There are many things we can do to lower the number of deaths due to car accidents, but many people will have to try with us.