Name: Olivia Beebe
From: West Chester, Ohio
Votes: 0
Driving
signifies growth for the average American teenager, but learning to
drive is not all that it’s cracked up to be. When I first got
behind the wheel of my mom’s Ford Escape, I never expected the
challenges I would face. Nobody warned me what I was getting myself
into.
About
six months after I had my license, I got in an accident that totaled
the Escape. It was non-life threatening and particularly eye-opening.
Of course, from the beginning I had always been a safe driver. I
follow every traffic law and I never get on my phone. Yet, somehow I
still got into an accident. It is from that accident that I learned
that you cannot expect everyone around you to be a safe driver. That
is why defensive driving is vital to every driver, but it can’t
always be taught in drivers ed.
Driver
education teaches drivers to follow all traffic laws, but it doesn’t
tell us about what it is like to actually drive. Learning the secrets
of the roads comes from practice time with your parents and
instructors. To teach defensive driving and other safe driving tips,
more driving practice is required. Often times, learning drivers do
not drive for the required hours put in place by each state. Parents
and/or relatives of new drivers need to know that the more practice,
the better. Plus, getting extra driving practice in can make you more
comfortable with the road, so your first few drives on your own
aren’t as scary.
However,
some safe driving tips cannot be exercised through practice but
rather culture. With advancements in technology such as smartphones,
smart watches, and headphones, drivers are finding new ways to be
distracted. Laws should be put into place to illegalize the use of a
mobile device when behind the wheel, laying out what is or isn’t
acceptable. However, laws can only go so far. Parents and family
members must also teach their new drivers that distracted driving is
extremely dangerous. Not only must they preach the importance of no
texting and driving, but the parents must practice the customs
themselves. It is not just teenagers who drive while looking at their
phone. Parents need to remember that their children are always
watching and learning.
Finally,
we need to erase the stigmas associated with driving while
intoxicated. Many people don’t see it as a problem and believe that
they can tell when they’ve had enough. Driver’s need to know that
their perception is altered while intoxicated and that their
reactions are delayed. All drivers must practice safe driving when
drinking, whether through a designated driver or an ubering service.
It just takes one drunk person behind the wheel to put lives on the
line.
After
learning all this, I make sure to share the story of my accident, and
promote safe driving to my friends and family members any chance I
get. I will always speak up when I see someone I know driving
irresponsibly.
