Independence Comes With Responsibility

Independence
Comes With Responsibility

Driving.
Many people do it, but how many do it safely? It is commonplace for
kids the age of sixteen to scramble in an attempt to get their
licence, but once they do, not many are aware of how much of a
responsibility they have been entrusted. We are all aware of the
numerous stories regarding fatal accidents involving teens; most of
which derive from phones, lack of concentration, or a simple
disregard for the law. Although these events surround us, we always
think, “It can’t be me; it won’t happen to me,” but it can.

Driver
education is the basis of a driver’s mentality. It is important to
instill early on that anyone can be involved in an accident, which is
why driving needs to be taken seriously. There is no time to be
egocentric while driving because the road is being shared by millions
of people at a time. If citizens as a whole, not just teens, begin to
think in a way that accounts for other lives on the road, then
society is one step closer to making the roads safer. In the
beginning of drivers ed, it is necessary to signify that all
laws matter. If teachers begin to blow off certain rules such as
stopping at a “STOP” sign, or yielding to pedestrians, then kids
will be desensitized to traffic laws, thus making driving more
trivial

Steps
that can be taken to reduce the amount of deaths while driving are
more simple than one would think. For instance, getting rid of the
phone. If every licenced driver were to put their phone in a box or
in the trunk while driving, then temptation to check the device would
be eliminated. Furthermore, a general sense of awareness and humility
should be present while a person is driving. If drivers as a whole
were to take driving more seriously, and put their egos aside, then
the act would become safer. We need to remember to stay calm while
behind the wheel, and to know that no matter what, it is better to
get to your destination late than be harmed in the process.

When
I was younger, about six or seven, I would always see my mom and dad
on their phones while they were driving. They would not only talk on
the phone, but would attempt to manually text a family member or a
friend. It was not until I was around the age of twelve that I
started to criticize them for it. It is unlike me to question my
parents, but I decided that it was better to have my parents get mad
at me than to have them risk our safety. Surprisingly, they both
acknowledged that they were being unsafe, and thanked me for bringing
their attention to their actions.

Personally,
I can learn to be a calmer driver and understand that people make
mistakes once in a while. I can be a defensive driver and abide by
the speed limit, as well as other signs and traffic lights. In
addition, giving other cars ample space is sufficient in reducing the
number of accidents that occur on the road. To help others be better
drivers, I can calm the driver down while I am in the car to help
reduce their stress levels. I will also tell passengers to be quiet
when someone else is driving so that their concentration can be
directed to where it matters: the road. Overall, the act of driving
can be fun and liberating, especially for young people. They gain a
sense of freedom and independence. Although it is exciting to drive,
people of all ages must remember the risks and responsibility of
getting behind the wheel.