Name: Regan Ritzler
From: Rochester, NY
Votes: 0
Safe
and Secure
The
age of sixteen is seen as a milestone for many teens. It’s almost a
“rite of passage” once your birthday hits, and you can finally
receive your driving permit. I know it was for me. The feeling you
get when you get behind the wheel the first time, having such a large
amount of control, is such an indescribable freedom.
What
we as teens don’t really take into account is the true educational
experience we need to have before we get our licenses and have full
freedom of transportation. In this generation, we are so concerned
with the outward appearance; the basic, superficial look of
everything. We post pictures on social media of new cars, driving
with friends, the places we go; having your licence and being able to
drive is really cool. This mindset bypasses the learning experience.
We are so eager to be finished with our permit test, drivers’ ed
classes, 5-hour courses that things can sometimes go in one ear and
out the other. And that is not responsible or safe.
A
lot of responsibility is on our shoulders when we are behind the
wheel. We are responsible for the lives of our passengers,
pedestrians in the environment, those in the cars we pass, and
ourselves. Without indulging and taking in the information we are
given before we are independently allowed behind the wheel, we are
putting all of those people at a very high risk. We need to learn how
to read road signs so we follow the rules and not break the law. We
need to know rite-of-way so we aren’t putting other cars in danger
and risking collision. We need to know when and how to turn the
lights on so we aren’t putting ourselves in danger. This
conscientious driving we learn while in drivers ed is vital to
keeping everyone safe.
I
can say with a grateful heart that I have never been in a car
accident. But there are a handful of teens in my town that have been.
The results of the accidents varied, between being safe and unharmed,
having injuries, and even death. I take these events with great
sympathy for those involved in these scary experience, and also as a
learning experience; to stay alert, conscious of my surroundings, to
put my phone away.
One
small reminder we can implement to be safer on the roads is to
silence our cell phones. We have to remind ourselves that it can
wait, and if it can’t, we need to pull over and safely come to a
complete stop before we proceed. Another reminder is to use the
seatbelt, no matter where in the car you are seated. Finally, you
have to remember to keep your focus in front of you. You don’t have
to worry so much about those behind you; YOU are THEIR
responsibility. They can see you.
You
can only control what is ahead. So make sure what is ahead is safe
and secure.
