You Know You’ve Done It Too

When the car swerved, we thought it was just the driver messing around with us. But then it happened again; she lost control, and my body slid into my sister’s whose slid into my friend’s whose slid into her sister’s. We skidded across lanes of the highway from the third lane to the first, right against the barrier, facing the wrong direction. After my heart rate had lowered, I blinked open my eyes to see if everyone was okay. I pressed my face against the window, seeing that beneath me was a popped tire. Now, every time I pass the building we were driving past, I can’t help but recall the memory of a fun day we were supposed to spend volunteering gone wrong. It’s a miracle all the passengers made it out alive. Car accidents can happen to anyone, but the odds of them happening to teenagers are much higher. Pressure among friends, desire to share what they’re doing at all times, and the fear of missing out are all reasons a teen might go on their phone while driving for a mere moment. A moment that can alter the lives of everyone you love.

The collision I was in could have been deadly because of all the risky behaviors we had engaged in: the driver had not had her car’s tire pressure checked; she had an extra person in her car than there were seats; she did not make any of us wear our seat-belts. We were lucky that we stayed safe, but we could have prevented the accident if we had taken the time to ensure the safety of our trip. To reduce dangerous driving habits, the driver needs to make sure all the parts of the car are in good shape and up to date and that they are following all the safety rules of the road. Driver error causes ninety-four percent of car crashes. If people confirm that they are taking the steps necessary for a safe trip, nearly all accidents can be prevented.

Teen drivers, in particular, with the addition of peer pressure and so-called popularity, tend to have more risky driving habits. However, these habits can be curbed by using many features already available to us. Whenever I go somewhere with my family, I navigate the directions. A notification pops up before I even get to open the phone, confirming that I am not the one driving and using the phone. This feature can be very beneficial for drivers, especially people who are more prone to going on their cellphones in the car. All they have to do is make sure that the feature is switched on in the phone’s settings.

Moreover, drivers can implement the “Do not disturb” and “airplane mode” settings on the phone. If a teen driver knows that they might receive lots of notifications, they can turn these settings on to guarantee that they will be able to drive safely and without distractions. If there are other friends or family members in the car, the teen driver can ask them to contact others instead, so they do not have to use the phone while driving. Rather than letting other passengers be a cause of distraction, drivers can use them to their advantage by having them do the navigating and texting for them.

I am a young driver, as are many of my peers and other people on the streets. I have seen both adult and teen drivers alike not following the rules of the road. The speed limit is 30 MPH? Oh, it’s not a problem to drive at 45 MPH. This stop sign at the end of the road? It doesn’t matter if I stop because no one comes there anyway. No car coming behind me? Then I do not need to give the indicator when I turn. These habits that may seem helpful or time-saving in the short term are what cause people to die. Humans learn through observation, but this is one thing I do not ever want to learn. As a driver, I hope I can truthfully vow to always, always follow the rules; they are there for a reason, and these are the types of rules that we are not meant to break. It doesn’t matter whether someone is driving behind me or not, whether they are getting bothered by my speed, whether I’m going to be late to school. My goal in life is to be a good human, but by driving dangerously, I harm myself and other people on the road and my family.

Not everyone is so fortunate as to survive a car accident. Practicing safe habits is the best choice a teen driver, or any other driver, for that matter, has to stay happy, safe, and alive. It’s better to arrive at the destination than to get hurt or killed while sharing how you are getting there.