The Privilege of Driving

We
have become so accustomed to having large machines around us that we
hardly react as cars and buses speed past us at speeds that we could
never match with our own physical bodies. Planes and helicopters fly
over our heads like giant metal birds and we watch in curiosity as
they do so. They appear so majestic and normal that we often lower
our guards without even realizing it. Then the day comes when it’s
time for us to get behind the wheel. While most people are quick to
follow the law, there are some people who don’t take the rules as
seriously. Instead of thinking of laws as things that keep everyone
safe and in order, they think of laws as rules that they have to
follow whether they want to or not.

I
believe that society is lacking in its reprimandation of law breakers
and in teaching our new drivers to keep everyone safe. Cars are not
only vessels that will transport us from point A to point B, they’re
also dangerous machines that can fail without proper care. We as
humans must do our part in taking full responsibility for our cars
and our driving. We should curate a test for new drivers to make sure
that they are responsible and competent enough to be behind the
wheel. When driving there is always a possibility or chance that
someone could be hurt or killed so drivers ed is extremely
important. We are safer when we are informed, and it’s safer for us
to make sure we don’t have to risk an innocent life to an
irresponsible driver. It’s important for everyone to be fully aware
of the full extent of punishment as well as rewards when it comes to
driving. The first thing we should do is make sure that new drivers
completely understand the possible consequences of driving. If people
learned how much safe driving impacts them then they are more likely
to drive safer. You can go to jail,
you can kill
someone, or you or a person you know could be killed.

There
needs to be an instilled confidence in the youth that allows them to
stand their ground and not give into peer pressure. Life can do what
it wants to whoever it wants and we need to make sure that everybody
understands that completely and that they understand that no one is
immune or an exception. We also need to not tolerate unsafe drivers.
For passengers we need them to make a safe and informed decision when
riding with someone else, because you lose all control once you’re
inside the car. You can’t just take the wheel when you get nervous
and it only takes a few seconds for something to go wrong.We must
give passengers the confidence to make sure that they don’t risk
getting into the car with somebody who could be a danger to them or
to someone else. Sometimes it takes a friend to see how dangerous
your behavior really is.

Personally
I have not been in an accident or experienced anyone driving
responsibly because I practice zero tolerance. I study the person’s
behaviors before I get into the car and ensure that they are sober
and in the right state of mind to be behind the wheel before I get
into the car. Not many people think too far ahead and aren’t as
cautious when their life is possibly on the line, and that’s where
psychology could be a useful tool. We need to understand why the
driver takes on the behaviors that they do and we need to drill safe
driving into their heads.