Metal Death Machines by Kayla Fontana

Metal Death Machines

By Kayla Fontana

I’ll never forget my first day of Drivers Ed when the instructor looked out into the crowd of pimply, acne ridden, bored teenage faces and said “You’re here because I have to drive next to you and I don’t want to die.” He then went on to say that even though he was a part of the police force for fifteen years, he’s always more scared to ride in the passenger seat of the student car. I know he was trying to wake us up and also make us laugh on our first day, but I think he was making one of the most relevant points that I can’t believe so many of us forgot and do forget as time goes on. We learn to drive safely because they can either be great, convenient ways of transportation or metal death machines if not educated properly! Too often than not I see many kids and young adults die (or harm others) because they don’t take driving seriously. They are on their phones, they don’t look both ways, they drive intoxicated and don’t use common sense while driving. It is infuriating because it puts others at risk, including the individuals that do pay attention. We don’t take Drivers Ed to learn how to drive or even to get the license, those come after we prove we have learned the rules of the road and have been educated on the consequences that will follow if we don’t. I think Drivers Ed does a great job of educating drivers on how to stay safe while driving and even includes the uncomfortable facts because it is too much of a reality to ignore (e.g drunk driving, texting while driving, stories of decapitation, smashing through windshields if you don’t have your seatbelt on, etc.). Most of my friends say I am a “wimpy driver” , and maybe at times I am, but it helps me stay and feel safe. I never ever EVER go on my phone while driving, even if it’s a red light and I hate the song that’s playing. And I have to tell myself when I hear my phone ding, “If it’s an emergency they can call 911. If you go on the phone, someone’s gonna have to call 911 for you”. I also think it’s important to remember there is absolutely no text that is worth your life. Even if I’m a “wimpy driver”, it pays to not cut people off in traffic, to go the speed limit, to make a complete stop even if “no one is coming”. There are rules of the road for a reason!

I think the regulations we have in place are best fit for the youth and adults driving on the road. I think it’s important though to remember it’s not just teenagers who text and drive, lots of older citizens partake in illegal driving tactics because they think they are immune to an accident because “They’ve been driving longer.” It would also be great if people stopped revving their engines in the streets, those loud noises can not only be triggered by members of the army with PTSD, is not productive driving, can wake sleeping children, but it is also one of the most annoying things people do! Everyone, including me, needs to stay aware of the rules of the road and the consequences that follow if we find those rules too “tedious”. We can all be more aware, more patient, and more kind on the road, it will always always pay off.