Dangerous Driving for Teens and the Solutions

In 2019, more than 2,400 teens were involved in fatal car crashes and over 200,000 teens went to emergency departments due to car crashes. Putting all the numbers together, that means that every day, there are a minimum of seven teen deaths. Those who are more at risk of being in a fatal car crash are males, teens driving with other teens, and newly licensed teens. Some risk factors for teens getting in crashes are: Inexperience, Night-time and weekend driving, not using seatbelts, distracted driving, speeding, and drug/alcohol use.

This brings up the question of how important driver education is especially for teen drivers. Teen brains are not fully developed therefore, we lack some basic problem solving skills and situational awareness. Education in driving is supposed to make teens aware of the risks of driving under the influence, driving in unsafe conditions, and driving without the proper safety equipment, such as a seatbelt. All these things are the difference between life and death. It is important we express the utmost importance in driving as a teen and really anyone teen or not. The steps that can be taken to prevent teen casualties is a more direct focus on the deaths teens can not only cause, but the injuries or fatalities they make inflict on themselves. We need more guidance, more security in knowing teens will drive safely on the streets. We could also push back the age that other teens may be in the car with a driver eighteen years or older. Teen drivers need to learn the wrongs and rights of the road other than passing their driving test and thinking they are invincible. They are not in the slightest invincible. We need to treat our generation, not as the generation that does not think about their actions but more as the generation that needs more guidance and better examples in their lives to be able to understand the importance of driving safely.

In my family, I have seen most of my family members drive while texting, miss stop signs due to distractions, and run red lights after they have been solid red for a few seconds. Distractions are really no joke, you can take your eyes off the road for one second, and never open them again after that one second has collapsed. If you drive under the influence and get into a car wreck, killing somebody, you can be charged with manslaughter and go to jail becauses of a poor decision and someone’s life is on your hands because of that irresponsible decision. I am guilty of running stop signs, but most of the stop signs in Redlands, California tend to be hidden or come up faster than you think they are. This is where situational awareness comes into play and the ability to quickly assess the situation and make your move safely and within the confines of the law. Instead of trying to get to places as fast as possible, leave earlier to give yourself the time you need to prepare and get where you need to go in a timely manner.

In conclusion, to be a better driver, we should all adhere to the laws of the road, no matter what state you are in. If you see a friend who has had alcohol or used uncontrolled substances of any sort, offer to drive them home or call someone to pick you both up if you are not sober yourself. That one moment of deciding to drive home intoxicated could mean your life and/or someone else’s life. For me, I could have more situational awareness when I am driving. I need to focus on the things around me as well as in front of me because anything can happen from any direction. We as people need to be better drivers and show our children and the next generation how to be safer drivers and know what to do in risky, quick situations. We need to crack down on those who do not take the law into consideration and end up hurting themselves and/or others. Driving is a freedom, a responsibility that is earned, it becomes less of a responsibility and more of a survival instinct when it comes to dire situations and life or death scenarios. Take a drive with your teen, show them how to be safe on the roads, save them from being the next teen fatality or another statistic on a website or the news. Do better.