Freedom or Calamity

Every
teenager counts down the days until they can get into their car and
drive; I know I am. I reside in the UAE, where the legal driving age
is 18, which is quite high compared to some states. This plastic card
allows us to enter a whole new world, it gives us the freedom to go
anywhere without relying on someone else, but it also introduces us
to a world of calamity, culpability, and car accidents.

Luckily
for us, the government isn’t handing out these tickets to freedom for
free, and you have to jump through quite a few hoops to possess a
license. Drivers ed is a key factor in reducing the number of
deaths on the road. In the USA, the percentage of fatalities
involving teenage drivers in 2018 was 7%. If these drivers were given
more intense training we could significantly reduce the number of
accidents. An example of this is in Kentucky, where the Alive at 25
programme is implemented and focuses on national driving
requirements, laws and vehicle handling. After the implementation of
this program in 2004, Kentucky has reported a 60% drop in accidents
in teens aged 16-19. Such initiatives develop strong foundations for
future adept drivers.

Some
states allow 14 year olds to obtain a learner’s
permit; an age mature enough to take responsibility for theirs and
others lives, but not considered mature enough to vote. The number
one cause of teen death is car accidents; increasing the legal
driving age can significantly reduce the death rate. Monaco, Sweden,
and Switzerland all possess some of the safest roads and a minimum
driving age of 18. The number one cause of car accidents is
distracted driving. Younger drivers are often easily distracted by
their phone, music, or other passengers. Raising awareness about how
these distractions can lead to imminent death and heavily penalising
drivers for using their phones while driving will act as a deterrent.

In
my own household, my father commonly tailgates other cars. Luckily,
this has never led to an accident because of quick reaction time, but
nonetheless this a very dangerous practice. This makes me feel
unsafe. My parents have had multiple arguments about this and my
father is slowly changing his ways. When drivers fall into bad
habits, it takes time to correct them, but one must remember their
liability for others. This is the mentality all drivers need to have
when they step into their car and one which effective training
creates.

With
3 months remaining until I can get a driver’s license and experience
this newfound freedom, I plan on thoroughly studying the manual and
undertaking intensive instruction. I want to drive with my phone off
and encourage my friends and family members to follow. Road rage is
very common in my family; I want to battle that by reminding everyone
that you should not let your ego get into the way, your life is far
more important.