Name: Aubrey Mahoney
From: Waukee, Iowa
Votes: 0
Aubrey
Mahoney
Waukee
High School
10/25/2019
Blind
Spot: The Importance of Drivers ed in all Ages
The
Center of Disease Control reported that on average, 32,000 people die
each year in motor vehicle-related accidents. A huge factor in this
is the fact that many people are not educated on road safety. In
drivers ed, kids as young as fourteen are taught about how to
stay safe on the road, the dangers of irresponsible driving, driving
under the influence, etc. This education needs to be continued in
order to remind young people how to keep themselves and others safe.
However,
as these young kids grow up, it seems as though this information is
not consistently refreshed. While yes, if you get a ticket or cause
an accident as an adult, you may be required to attend a drivers ed
course, many situations can still be prevented. By requiring all
drivers to take a refresher course – online or in person – every few
years, it can be assured that they are being reminded of new laws,
updated traffic rules, and how to keep everyone safe.
While
thankfully, I have never been in a car accident, I have been in the
car with many irresponsible drivers. Many of my friends text and
drive. It’s a fairly nerve-wracking experience being a passenger
when the driver is not fully focused on what is right in front of
them. I’ve also been in the car with extreme speeders and
tailgaters, resulting in many close calls with fender-benders. My
school parking lot is also a stressful place for driving – students
are inexperienced, on their phones, blasting music, etc. I have
almost gotten in accidents on multiple occasions due to
irresponsibility and lack of attention.
However,
I of course am not perfect either. I know that I can become a safer
driver by putting my phone somewhere out of reach. I find myself on
occasion trying to change my music, pull up directions, or see if
someone has messaged me. It can wait. And if it can’t, I can simply
find a safe place – like a parking lot – to pull over so I’m not
trying to multitask while driving. I can also be more aware when
backing out of places. I have a back-up camera in my car, and
sometimes I think I rely so much on it that I don’t always fully
check my surroundings. Finally, I can take the time to research the
questions I have regarding traffic laws. Sometimes, I forget what a
certain rule about something is. Rather than questioning what is and
isn’t allowed, I can ask the people around me or simply look up the
answer.
Driving
can be one of the most exciting things about being a teenager. To
many teens, driving equals freedom. However, with this “freedom”
comes many risks. Car accidents can have horrible, irreversible
consequences for something that can be so easily prevented. Knowing
how to be safe behind the wheel is essential not just in young
drivers, but in drivers of all ages.
