Teenage Mind, Adult Responsibilities

Teenage
Mind, Adult Responsibilities

Freedom
from parents, visiting friends all the time, driving everywhere —
these are the initial thoughts we have when we first get our driver’s
license. Little do our teenage minds know that these small pieces of
plastic hold adult responsibilities. I still remember the day I
passed my driver’s test and obtained my license like it was
yesterday — truly a defining moment in my life. Unfortunately,
people of all ages forget about their responsibilities when driving
and get themselves into deadly accidents.

As
someone who takes on an arduous daily commute to school, I believe it
is important to enforce a strong drivers ed to anyone intending
to get their license. Everytime I start my car and embark on my
commute there is a constant thought in the back of my mind: what if
I’m not able to get home safely? Implementing drivers ed into
the lives of prospective drivers allows them to understand road
regulations and how to operate their car properly. Oftentimes, there
are drivers who make unwise decisions on the road, directly impacting
the people around them. Whenever you drive, your life is always on
the line and can be taken away from you at any time. New drivers
often underestimate this and foolishly check their phones or speed
just to impress their peers. Teaching the public about the dangers of
distracted driving will help to reduce the number of deaths
associated with traffic accidents because of increased awareness.

Accidents
don’t choose a specific time or person to target, making anyone
susceptible. Unfortunately, traffic accidents have impacted me
directly — my aunt and cousin were in a life-threatening accident
in October 2018. It was just a normal day: my aunt taking my cousin
to school and driving to work, until everything changed. A large
pickup truck collided with the side of her car, creating a deep
indent on the side where my cousin was. Pieces of steel and aluminum
scattered on the road as my aunt clutched her chest, struggling to
breathe. These two people hold a very special place in my heart, and
I wouldn’t know what I would do if they passed away just because of
someone choosing to be irresponsible. After further investigation
with authorities, they discovered that the pickup driver was texting
and became unaware of the oncoming red light. How could this have
been avoided? Recognizing our power as individuals is what we need in
order to keep accident deaths low.

Although
I’m a new driver, I do everything in my ability to be a safe one.
Prior to starting my car, I stow my phone away and ensure that my
notifications are on mute. Remember, your life is more important than
sending that text or Snapchat. While driving, I keep my music at a
reasonable volume and I make sure to be aware of my surroundings.
Anticipating what the drivers around me are going to do is also
something I keep in mind. With the power of social media at our
fingertips, we can create safe driving campaigns and spread
awareness. We can also take it a step further and propose safe
driving bills to our local government, in hopes they will be
approved. These may seem like small actions, but they reap lifesaving
benefits in the end. If you want to save a life, take these steps
seriously and practice them whenever you drive.