Driving. An essential skill for the majority living within the modern world. It should not however, merely be seen as an easy skill, for driving is a very large responsibility upon the individual. The lives of not just the driver, but also the people around can be put at risk. This makes it essential for future drivers to be taught correctly not only how to drive physically, but also how to respond to dangerous circumstances.
The truth is, teenagers will become the elders driving in society. If they have not learnt correctly, how will their children drive? This simply leads to an ongoing circle of bad drivers, ultimately leading to many foreseeable accidents. Not only will this place effects on the future, but it will also affect the present as well. According to a science and educational website, the fatal crash rate per mile driven for teenagers is three times higher than the rate of drivers above 20 years of age. Thus proving how vital it is for young drivers to not only learn the correct rules of driving and awareness of their surroundings, but to also comprehend the gravity of the responsibility upon their shoulders each time they sit in the driver’s seat.

What defines a “bad” driver? A bad driver is someone who does not know the rules and regulations of driving. Someone who is not in the correct state of mind from having taken alcohol, drugs, or perhaps not sleeping enough. Being a “bad” driver can be overcome when one knows what they should and shouldn’t do whilst being a driver. A person is not always a good driver likewise, a bad driver is not always a bad driver.
There are many things that could contribute to being a bad driver. This includes pressure from friends or peers, being distracted by social media, and lack of experience. All of this can be overcome by understanding that driving is full of risks. Two seconds distracted by social media and boom- something terrible could occur. Being aware of the dangers is important to becoming a better driver.
The most important thing a new driver can do is educate themselves properly so that they know what to do in every situation. Reading the Driver’s Manual, learning from driving instructors, and not repeating the mistakes of others is a great way to avoid accidents.

I have experienced a near accident twice so far. I distinctly remember that one time when I was in Senior Kindergarten, my dad was dropping me to school. We were late, so he was speeding a little bit. Of course, a few minutes before we made it, we got pulled over. I was too young to know what the officer was saying, but I just remember going home that night and telling my mom how I was late for class. Now, looking back, I see the fact that we were pulled over as a blessing. Perhaps if that officer had not done so, we may have ended up in an accident of some sorts, and I wouldn’t have made it to school that day at all.

Then there is the first time I drove with my dad instead of an instructor; everything was going well at first. However, soon we came to a major road on which the cars drove really fast. I had to enter the passing lane so that I could take the upcoming left turn. My nerves started to pool in my stomach as I looked into the side mirror and over my shoulder. The light was approaching quickly, and in this anxiety to get into the lane, I almost hit a car in that lane. Thankfully, that car realized in time, slamming his breaks, beeping his horn and changing lanes. It wasn’t that I didn’t know how to change lanes. I did, and had done many lessons with my wonderful instructor. Point is, even when you know what to do, you can mess up. Making it even more important for learners to know what to do in stressful situations. This is something that should be taught or spoken about, to avoid potential accidents.

Teen car accidents can be completely avoided with the help of the community, their schools, and their own actions. Teenagers can be supported by their community and schools through seminars in which they learn about the dangers of driving and how to avoid them. The teenagers themselves can better their driving through lessons and even from videos on the internet. To avoid being in harmful situations, they can learn to avoid them. If you haven’t slept enough, pull off to the side and rest your eyes. If your mind is unable to focus and anxiety is taking over, pull off, take deep breaths. If that doesn’t help, calling a friend or an Uber can always help.

For the best teen drivers know how to protect themselves and the people around them from the potential dangers of fatal car accidents, through learning and understanding how to drive and deal with harmful situations.