Drive Safe – Its Worth It!

My
best friend and I signed up for a Drivers ed course as
sophomores in High School. We figured it was just one more thing to
get out of the way before our sweet sixteenths – and being allowed to
drive. Walking into class, I was glad I had signed up with a friend
to be my drive partner because I had the feeling that this would be
b-o-r-i-n-g. Yet after just a few minutes of our very first lesson it
hit me – this was not a joke. Not busy work. Not something to do
while you wait to turn 16. Not something to never think about again
after you get your license. This was real.

According
to the CDC, 12% of distracted drivers involved in fatal car accidents
are

teens ages 15-19.
This represents a much higher percentage of teen accidents compared
to teens on the road. Kids who take Drivers ed courses
seriously and implement the lessons from the class into their driving
greatly reduce their chance of being involved in an accident. Sadly,
this is not always the case.

When I drive out of
my school parking lot each day, I see firsthand the dangerous
behavior that my peers demonstrate while driving. The most common
problem I see is the great number of drivers vaping, which distracts
them from focusing on the road and only leaves them one hand to
control the car with. Often, these drivers have siblings or friends
as passengers in their car, only heightening the distraction and
worsening the danger. This problem can be combated through tightening
security on vapes and vaping products and lessening their appeal to
teenagers. In September, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee issued
and Executive order banning all flavored vaping products. I have
heard many complaints from students at my school at this action and
statements about how it limits their vaping. I believe that the
country needs more regulations such as this in place in order to
limit teens’ access and the appeal of vaping products, which will
greatly help drivers focus on the road and the other drivers around
them.

Another huge issue
surrounding driver safety is alcohol use and drunk driving. A family
friend is a county sheriff and he has told me time and time again
that the greatest danger he sees in drivers is how many people drink
and drive. Adults and teens alike are guilty of driving while under
the influence of alcohol. Teens especially are tempted to drive drunk
rather than calling a parent or family member to pick them up due to
the risk of being caught and punished for underage drinking. Adults
too, however, also show neglect to their safety and risk drunk
driving. These trends show that people are not fully aware of how
dangerous for themselves and their passengers driving under the
influence is. This issue can be helped by educating kids in schools
about the realities of drunk driving, and enforcing legislation that
limits driving under the influence. Another way to combat this issue
would be to pass new legislation that further tightened security on
drunk driving.

Together, we can
all make a difference to reduce the risks that lead to accidents and
promote safe driving. I encourage all my friends currently in
Drivers ed courses to take them seriously and practice what
they are taught. As a driver, I put my phone in “Do Not Disturb”
mode so that only emergency calls can get through to me. I also put
my phone in my purse and do not take it out until I have arrived at
my destination. If I urgently need to send a text or receive a call,
I pull off the road in a safe, legal location to do so. I believe
these habits have helped me to stay out of accidents and be a safe
driver. As a passenger, I offer to help the driver with anything they
need done on their phone, including responding to texts and finding
directions. I do my best to not distract the driver, especially in
difficult weather conditions and on busy roads. These practices, when
consistently used and understood, can help to make the road a more
safe place and greatly reduce the number of accidents each year.