Name: Kaden Winn
From: WINDSOR, California
Votes: 0
“With
Great Power comes Great Responsibility.” It may be a quote from the
beloved Spiderman, but recently I have come to realize that it holds
a lot of truth in the context of driving.
I
am a very new driver. I have my permit, and will soon have my
license. I took my drivers ed class very recently and I
still remember a lot of what was covered. Drivers ed is
important because not only does it teach the fundamentals of driving,
it also teaches students the intense responsibility that they have
when behind the wheel. In a 2015 study, it was found that drivers who
do not take a drivers ed class are 24 percent more likely
to be involved in a fatal/ life threatening accident. We need
drivers ed because it teaches accountability, not just driving.
I
am at an age where being able to drive is a new and exciting
privilege. The topic of drivers ed and driver’s training
are common in conversations at my school. However, some of the
students I hear talking about taking their drivers ed class
are the same ones that I hear telling stories about speeding or
sharing videos of driving recklessly on social media. Whether it be
in the classroom or online, most of us had to watch the video in
which it shows firsthand the awful consequences of these actions, but
these new drivers aren’t taking into account that these people
could be them. The mentality that accidents are the kind of things
that happen to others is destructive and dangerous. Therefore, if we
can show just how easily this could happen to them, new drivers will
be more focused at the wheel.
Personally,
I have not been in any major accidents. However, my best friend’s
dad was killed in a collision with another driver who was texting and
driving. He was only 6 years old at the time. This was a really hard
time for them and it is one of the reasons that I have always had an
understanding of the damage that can be done when driving
irresponsibly.
As
I try to become a better driver, I need to constantly remind myself
and others this: It is not worth risking injury or death for a peek
at a phone or to get somewhere faster. I can also be an advocate for
safer driving by encouraging my friends to seriously consider the
responsibility they have as drivers instead of turning a blind eye to
their rashness.
The
amount of people who are killed in car crashes is heartbreaking and
drivers ed is one of the ways to help mitigate this tragedy.
So as drivers and really as humans, we should remember the power we
have in a motorized vehicle and the responsibility that comes with
it.
