Something people, especially people around my age, tend to forget about the fact that driving is a privilege, not a right. It is this misconception and many others that lead to teenagers endangering themselves while on the road. According to the CDC, “About 2,800 teens in the United States ages 13–19 were killed and about 227,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes in 2020.” Motor vehicle crashes are also the leading cause of death amongst teens and young adults. Death is not a subject to take lightly, so the causes of their death or injuries can not be ignored. Whether it is plain reckless driving or genuine inexperience, these accidents could have been prevented. Drivers’ education is more important now more than ever, especially because of modern day technology and pressures. Providing a full and proper education to young drivers and letting them understand the ramifications of their actions on the road will lead to less loss of life.
As any other generation, Generation Z and Generation A undergo many pressures and challenges during adolescence. These challenges can change their entire future depending on how they face them. Teenagers also undergo massive biological changes. These same challenges and changes can especially affect their outlook and performance on the road. When first driving there is an obvious learning curve to get past. New drivers need experience behind the wheel, and it can take years for them to be fully acquainted with the laws of the road. That alone serve as a danger to themselves and others. Adding distractions to the already difficult task of driving can cause serious danger to the roads they drive on. Phones can serve as a useful tool for guiding them to different locations, but these same devices also can cause major distractions and cause teens to completely lose focus while driving. Many teens attempt to text and drive, scroll through social media, or simply check their phone every two minutes to see their new notifications. Even a second of a lapse in attention could turn catastrophic. Driving is a very involved method of transportation. It requires complete and constant attention to your surroundings. If teens have an issue about looking at their phone while driving, there are multiple ways to solve the issue. Firstly, they can simply put the device on silent and then set it aside, using self-control to ignore its existence for the length of their drive. Another option is putting it out of sight or out of reach. Self-control is a hard concept to master, especially during adolescence. It can take a lot of time and patience to finally resist certain temptations, so to counteract this, simply put it away while driving and wait until afterwards to check those new messages. Along with these temptations to grab their phone while driving, teens can also face the pressures of their peers. Some think there is a certain way you must drive at this age. Most of the time, this way of driving can be reckless. Social pressure can weigh heavily on a teenager’s mind while driving. If they are driving with their friends or see someone they recognize on the road, some young drivers have an urge to make themselves appear “cool.” Whether if it be through drifting or speeding, they think that being reckless is equivalent to being adventurous and fun. Giving these teens reasons of why these beliefs are wrong can go a long way, especially if it is through someone they trust. As social beings, we require acknowledgement and friendship amongst our peers. However, there are plenty of people around the world and many safer alternatives to getting that attention.
As an emerging adult heading to college, I have experienced the pressures and distractions a normal teenager does. I understand why we want to check our phones or why we want to impress our friends by looking “cool.” In recent years, however, I have realized just how important the responsibility of driving safe is. A year after receiving my license, I stopped paying attention to my speed and zoned out. I ended up being pulled over and being faced with the possibility of punishment for my ignorance. Luckily for me, the officer who pulled me over was merciful. He let me off with a citation of outdated insurance and gave me a stern warning. He helped me understand that driving is not some God-given right we have. It is a privilege for easy and quick transportation. Since it is a privilege, it can be taken away. You can be punished for using it wrong or recklessly. I have also seen videos and stories of the aftermaths of awful accidents. Stories about families being torn apart, friends being stolen, and lives being ruined all because one person made a costly mistake. I could not bear to let my parents be burdened by having to plan my funeral, or even to have to pay for egregious hospital bills. They trusted me enough to teach me the basics of driving. The least I can do is to treat that trust with the upmost respect by driving safely and coming back home safely.
Almost every motor vehicle accident is preventable. One thing the United States gets criticized for is our educational system. Although it may be flawed, there is so much opportunity in it. Something that I think that could be improved though, is our driver’s education system. I believe it is too lax and short. If we are going to protect our streets, why not take education more seriously? I only had to take a quarter class and drive a low number of hours to receive a licensee to be able to operate a vehicle that could easily kill me or others. If we want to lower the number of deaths among teenagers while driving, the adults must first take action by putting more effort in our education as drivers. Even if it only lowers the deaths per year by a hundred or even by one person, every single human life matters. So, why can we not treat it that way?