Follow the Rules to Help Everyone

Letsky Clermont

Rising Senior

James Hubert Blake HS

Follow the Rules to Help Everyone

The media has always portrayed learning to drive as a rite of passage or an act of freedom: in reality, driving is a privilege that a lot of Americans take for granted often resulting in dire consequences. Drivers ed plays an important role in reminding those fortunate enough to earn their license that major responsibilities accompany it. The 9 months between the learners permit and provisional license allows a new driver to gain the experience of road in a safe environment. Through experience, knowledge of the dangers will allow new drivers to “hit the road” with greater caution and less risk.

Though it is true that individuals can decrease the risk of getting into an accident, most accidents are due to human error. A variety of factors could be to blame from impaired driving, to ignoring rules and regulations. There is a reason that all these rules and regulations exist. It was found that people with Blood Alcohol Concentration of .08 or greater are 70% percent more likely to get in a fatal car crash. Speeding also increases the risk of an accident; it is 8 times more likely to crash going 60 mp/h than 20 mp/h.

These statistics shine light on the risk we take every time we step on the road. The unfortunate fact is that more Americans are dying behind the wheel than in most armed conflicts. That is why it is important for everyone to do their part to decrease these numbers. The easiest first step is to educate yourself in how to avoid risky driving. Don’t get behind the wheel when your reaction time is impaired. A very simple rule of thumb to follow is to imagine yourself in the other car and treat them with the same respect you would want to receive. Drivers ed plays an important role in making everyone a more competent driver, but it is ultimately up to you to follow the rules even when no one is watching.

A Personal Note: I’ve had a couple family members who lived in Georgia that have experienced car crashes. That has made me hesitant to “hit the road.” Driving is a necessary skill that I will need, and I believe the more experience one has on the road the less likely they are to get into an accident. It is unfortunate that so many fellow teen drivers get into accidents so often. I think it would be beneficial to extend the holding period of the permit to a year and implement stricter hours behind the wheel logging techniques. With more experience, I think the number of fatalities can decrease.