Name: Isabella Armstrong
From: Glendale, Arizona
Votes: 0
The importance of drivers ed by Isabella Armstrong
There are so many
more opportunities out there now to become a safer driver then we
have ever had. They have driving schools, where they come to your
house, pick you up and you go driving with your instructor. When it
is time for you to take your test, you can take it with the same
instructor you learned from, which is really nice.
Hospitals also
offer “Distracted Driving Courses.” Where teens can put on
distracted driving goggles and see what it would be like if you were
driving, drunk, high or texting. It is a huge eye opener to see how
it can affect you when you are driving distracted.
High Schools put
on Mock Crashes, where you can see what it would be like if you and
your friends were out drinking and driving before and after parties.
You can see and experience in real time, where the EMT’s and
ambulances will come out onto the football field and tend to the
injured patients. It really puts things in perspective and leaves a
sick feeling in your gut.
I believe driving
is something that will get better as I get older and have more
experience. Unfortunately driving is the number one cause of teen
deaths.
In 2018 in our
state of Arizona, there were a total of 916 fatal crashes. Out of
those 916 crashes, 281 were speed related. 290 were not using a
safety device. In the 84,088 crashes that were reported in 2018, 846
teens over turned their cars. 1,457 had a collision with a
pedestrian and 99 of the cars caught on fire! Even though a teen
myself, I sometimes wonder if they should move up the age to start
driving. Maybe 16 years old is still too young. We are going to be
a lot more mature when we are 25.
I was riding
along with my mom a couple of years ago, and we saw these teens being
reckless and they flipped their jeep. They were disoriented from the
crash, they started walking onto oncoming traffic and my mom had to
run up and pull them back onto the side of the road. I don’t think
I will ever forget that.
The steps I have
taken to be better on the road, starts with me. I have taken driving
school, I have learned with both of my parents. I keep my phone in
the glove box. Even though sometimes it will be hard, I will try not
to drive when I am emotional. Look ahead even when turns are coming
up. Pay attention to what is happening in the distance and all
around you. Follow the traffic laws. I have also learned how to
change my oil and change my tires. And I may even learn how to drive
a manual transmission.
Everyone always
tells you that learning to drive is a big responsibility. As Ferris
Bueller says, “A man with priorities so far out of whack doesn’t
deserve such a fine automobile.” To sum it up, driving education
is one of the most important educations you can have.
