Driving Is a Privilege, Not a Right

Ria
Patel

26
March 2020

2020
Drivers Ed Online Essay Contest

Driving
is an important step in one’s life. Teenagers look forward to the
idea of freedom gained from receiving their license and immigrants
see it as an opportunity to start a new life in their new homeland.
Automobile transportation is one of the most common methods of
transportation in the world, but this fact does not overshadow the
dangers that accompany it. Drivers ed is vital in spreading
knowledge about these dangers. It also provides steps recommended to
all drivers to better the safety of those on the road.

Driver
education is highly encouraged by the United States of America. In
most states, in order to receive a permit to drive, a person is
required to pass a permit test to ensure that they have the basic
knowledge required by drivers. Many choose to take a course in driver
education which outlines the risks and ways to prevent injury or
death when driving. Simply knowing the facts of the amount of
car-related deaths and their causes opens the eyes of eager teenagers
and forces them to use caution every step of the way. Driver
education also provides information about traffic laws which are put
into place to ensure the safety of those on the road. This vital
information aids in the decision-making process when one must decide
not to take the wheel while under the influence.

The
steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to
driving are simple and logical. One obvious one that can be taken for
granted many times is to not drive under the influence of drugs or
alcohol. While in an altered state of mind, one’s judgement may not
be apt enough to keep themselves and others out of harm. The same
goes for driving while unrested. In these cases, one could easily
assign someone as a designated driver or call a cab or use the bus.
It is also advised not to drive while distracted or to speed. One
should always obey traffic laws.

When
I was very young, I was in a car accident. My dad and I were in his
car stopped at a traffic light, and a fire truck hit us from the
back. The impact of the fire truck caused me to hit my head quite
hard on my car seat which gave me a terrible headache. I could not
stop crying and first responder gifted me a stuffed animal rabbit.
This event goes to show that even trained officials may have a hard
time driving while distracted from their stressful jobs.

I have been driving with my
license for almost a year and, thankfully, I haven’t gotten close
to being in a car accident. I always make sure to be a responsible
and courteous driver. I obey stop signs and use my turn signals. I
try not to speed too much or cut people off abruptly. There are
instances when I may find myself late to something and may panic but
I make sure to remember that mine and everyone’s safety are what is
most important on the road. After all, the first thing one learns in
drivers ed is that driving is a privilege, not a right.