Driving is a privilege not a right

Jovonna McCormick

Sophomore at University of Alaska Fairbanks

July 14, 2020

Drivers ed Initiative Award: In the Driver’s Seat

There are many steps a person can take to become a safer driver. However, in this day in age, some millennials believe they are above that. I live in a small city in Alaska, where there are 2 lanes for the highway, and everybody seems to know everybody. Growing up I always watched my parents drive with such ease, even in the wintertime when the roads were slippery. However, nothing can compare a person for when you they begin to drive. When I first started learning how to drive, I was very careful and cognizant of my surroundings. I kept my phone face down, my ringer off and my music low so it was not a huge distraction. However, as I began getting older and driving myself to school, I became a little more careless. Seeing other students blasting their music and driving fast seemed like a “cool kids” thing at the time. I began to act in the same manner until reality hit me in the face.

On August 26, 2018 my niece was born. I was officially an aunt now. My priorities suddenly began to change. When I would drive her around to places, my top priority would be keeping her safe. I slowly began learning and taking many steps to becoming a safer driver. I used to have a bad habit of being on my phone while driving. Whether it was opening a snapchat or scrolling through music to find a better song. It was not easy trying to adjust, but I am here to say there are ways to stop tempting yourself to look at your phone. Began by putting your phone on do not disturb so you wont here the continuous notifications while driving. Second, choose a playlist on what you might be feeling at the time, so you don’t have to scroll through to find all your songs. Third, keep your phone perhaps in your glove compartment or face down in the seat so you are not tempted to look or take it off do not disturb.

There are many ways you can help others become safer drivers too. First, be a good role model. If your friends, see the things you do to drive safely they will be more apt to listen when you try to explain it to them. Secondly, if you are driving with friends keeping them from becoming a hazard on the road will slowly correct them on what they should and should not be doing. Eventually, the process will spread. All it takes is one person to start a chain reaction.