Driving Through a Crisis

Driving a vehicle for the first time is a sacred milestone. The breeze on your face, sweaty palms grasping the steering wheel, and the sun blinding your eyes. We all remember this feeling. However, this sacred milestone can quickly become deadly when not done properly. It is your responsibility to protect yourself as well as others when behind the wheel. You aren’t simply driving a car, but driving your future.

Responsibility and knowledge remains key to ensure one is a safe driver. The first step in gaining this background education comes from drivers education courses. Globally, approximately 1.35 million people die from car accidents each year, and ensuring every driver is trained is the first step to reducing this number. Drivers education teaches students about road signs, traffic signals, roundabouts, right aways, and so much more. While many of these lessons seem easily forgettable or that the concepts could be acquired online, driver’s education remains the strongest option to save lives. These courses require students’ full attention, and tests are taken to ensure the material is comprehended. While some may complain about the studying or long hours, can we really put a price on one’s life? It has been noted that teens between the ages of 16-18 who have taken drivers’ education courses are less likely to crash than those who did not. This is the highest fatality age range, and driver’s education is proven to protect the precious lives of future generations. All drivers must learn the basic rules on the road, ensuring they can protect their life and the lives of others.

There are various ways we can reduce the number of deaths caused by driving. Since the highest percentages from car wrecks come from drivers 16-17, a solution needs to be directed towards young people. Teenagers are addicted to their cell phones and social media, so advertisements must increase on all social networking sites. Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and all others must have advertisements on their pages reminding users of the harsh consequences of distracted driving. These advertisements must also be realistic to ensure they will not be overlooked. Car wreck images or tragic stories of lives lost will have a deeper impact on the viewers and make them walk away more serious about driving safely.

While I have never been in a serious car accident, I have first hand witnessed the trauma it can have on many. On July fourth, one of my friend’s family members was driving home where she was struck by a drunk driver. They airlifted her to the nearest hospital, but she was pronounced dead in the air. Stories like this are too common and are not shared enough. Drunk driving is a serious crime and destroys countless lives. By the drunk driver consuming six beers, he shattered the lives of the victims’ family. My friend was devastated, and it took a year of therapy for her to return to school. Her family was unable to move on from the ordeal, as we could not understand how one carless act of another could take away a precious life. This experience was eye opening to me. I knew how common drunk driving accidents occurred, but I never thought I would be one affected.

This is the mindset that must change throughout society. The growing problem of distracted driving can strike anyone at any time. This is a problem for everyone, not just those affected. We must reach out to those uneducated drivers and open their eyes to the heartache they could cause. We also must gain public support from all drivers so we can stand united and beat this crisis.

I plan to continue educating myself on the rules of the road to ensure I will never take away a driver’s life. Many forget some of the smaller rules following drivers’ education courses, so it is our responsibility to study the rules. About every six months, I watch YouTube videos about what it means to be a capable driver. One video might be about driving near a train track, while another could be about yielding. While I know the information already, expanding my knowledge and brushing up on it could save a life. I will encourage others to do the same. I will show my family and friends videos about people who have experienced the first-hand effects of distracted driving. I feel that true stories open people’s eyes like no other, as they can put themselves in their shoes and see how they feel.

Distracted driving is a growing problem that we must end. All drivers need to further their education on the rules of the road and the dangers of distracted driving to eliminate this growing crisis. It is our responsibility to be the change. Young people must unite and realize that we are the ones most likely to get in a car accident. We must gain the knowledge to cease the problem and make the world a safer place for all.