Respect the Privilege

Ever
since I was younger, I couldn’t wait until I started driving. Out
on the open road, wind in my hair, and listening to my favorite music
without a care in the world. I soon realized how much more there was
to driving instead of just bucking up and journeying on the road.
There are hundreds of things that you need to be looking for when
driving, such as checking your mirrors as you pass intersections,
maintaining your speed, using turn signals, etc. When I was first
learning how to drive, I thought some of these rules were unnecessary
and not important, but I know now how crucial everything you learn in
a driving school is. One thing that really struck me when I was
learning to drive was the amount of traffic related deaths there are
per year. I always thought of driving as a luxury, but I realized
that it is an opportunity you must be cautious about.

Proper
drivers ed is key in reducing the number of deaths due to
driving because it can teach people how to prevent situations from
turning into accidents. The more knowledgeable people are on driving,
the less likely they are to make stupid mistakes that could
potentially last a lifetime. One issue I believe every driver holds
is the distraction of their cell phone. Whether it’s texting,
calling, or using social media, I believe drivers do not realize how
detrimental their phones are. One major step that could be taken in
order to reduce the number of deaths is to make it illegal
countrywide to be on your phone at all while driving. Of course,
directions can be an exception, but no one should be looking down at
their phone for more than a second. This law would be difficult to
implement because people are so addicted to their phones and
unwilling to give them up, but it would be necessary in order to
protect the lives of others. Thankfully, I have never been in a car
accident, but I have been in the car with people who drove
irresponsibly. They were swerving, speeding, and being reckless
because they thought it was fun… needless to say, I have not been
in a car with them since. Even in my everyday life, I see drivers
making stupid decisions and I worry about the danger they put
themselves and everyone else in. I can become a better driver by
attending refresher courses in order to keep my knowledge about
driving current and up to standards. I can also lock my phone in my
glove compartment whenever I drive and encourage my friends to do the
same. I can keep others safe on the road by not breaking any traffic
laws and reaching out to my friends and family so that they can
practice the same. Everyone should realize the importance of driver
education and that driving is a privilege, not a right.