The Rules of The Road

Driving a car is something that every freshly-turned sixteen-year-old dreams of. For years they waited patiently for the freedom and excitement being behind the wheel brings, eagerly looking forward to those weekly driving lessons given to them through the driving school of their choosing. There’s a lot of pertinent lessons to be learned in driving school- how to use a blinker, how to properly switch lanes, etc. The purpose is all about the basics of driving safety in hopes of accident prevention. Drivers ed allows for every new driver to be well acquainted with the rights of vehicle operators as well as every pedestrian. It gives the driver, not only information on how to safely and effectively operate a vehicle on the road, but also how to navigate pedestrians and those in other cars as well to ensure the safety of all involved. It emphasizes the importance of staying focused on the surroundings of the vehicle because driving can be very unpredictable.

Unfortunately, there is one lesson driving schools are unable to teach young adolescents that only one could obtain through experience: the personal effects of being involved in a car accident. I, myself, have been involved in a few car accidents. I just recently was rear-ended by a distracted driver while stopped at a red light. It can be very traumatizing, whether you are injured or not. It effects how you think and feel when driving in the future.

I propose that as an attempt to decrease the amounts of traffic-related deaths and accidents on the road, every individual who obtains a driver’s license should have to retake the initial driving test each year that their license is up for renewal. This would ensure that everyone currently operating a vehicle is still up-to-date on road laws and safety procedures and is also able to operate a vehicle correctly.

In this current time, there is a serious threat to the safety of those behind the wheel, as well as pedestrians: cellular devices. Texting-and-driving has become a major issue for drivers of all ages. The urge to look down to check a message, change a song, or simply look at the time is very tempting, but could have disastrous results. I have personally made some mistakes while driving throughout the last few years and modern technology is definitely a flaw for me as well. My biggest problem, like many others, is becoming too distracted by the alerts on my phone and being tempted to look down for a brief second at the screen while behind the wheel. I would benefit the safety of myself and others if I were to turn my phone off before I begin driving so that I am not tempted to take my eyes off the road. As for others, I would recommend doing the same. I encourage whoever decides to operate a vehicle to educate themselves on the importance of remaining alert and focused on the road and their surroundings at all times.