As a teen driver in training, the amount of unsafe driving that I witness is insane and unrealistic. Growing up I have always had an idea of what adulthood looks like, what driving looks like, how cool and fun it is. The idea of blasting music when I drive, with the AC on blast, and the countless soothing late-night drives I will take. However, all those ideas and perceptions began to fade away as I witnessed the reality of being behind the wheel, especially in Atlanta, Georgia. One of the first real experiences I had was on the road with all my family in the car, six of us, at night. We were on the way home from IHOP after my dance show and as I looked to my right, I saw a car getting a bit too close. I thought it was trying to come into my lane, so I tried to move to the left to avoid the car hitting me, and instead there was a honk from the car to my left in my blind spot.
Thankfully, I was able to keep the car under control and safely get my family home. I was at fault, as I forgot to check the left side mirror, and what was worse was that my siblings felt scared, unsettled, and a bit unsafe. That one memory has taught me to be intentional through every action, when driving, and to always be aware of every surrounding. My mom always tells me to drive for yourself, and for everyone else on the road; essentially, the importance of being a defensive driver. Teen driving safety as a public issue is imperative, as it emphasizes the need for all drivers to exercise patience and caution. Many teen drivers are first time drivers, meaning there is little to no experience on the road. There are challenges that are also being faced such as being easily intimidated by the new environments, other cars, and unknown atmospheres. There may also be a lack of confidence, as the newness of the skill can seem overwhelming at times, which brings a sense of uncertainty.
Driving education on and off the road has a positive impact, as it grants clarity in the different aspects of driving. Learning off the road involves understanding the rules and signs of driving, while on the road, this education aids the student with the ability to combat real world challenges that one may face, such as cars honking at them, impatient drivers, and rainy or stormy weather. This type of education also allows the teen driver to become more comfortable while driving, whilst building healthy habits, since these are professionally trained driving instructors who are hired by reputable agencies/organizations.
There are driver’s education courses that are partnered with schools, and there are separate organizations that are single entities. It would be an amazing idea for these organizations to partner with more schools or community-based businesses, for example, Boys and Girls clubs, churches, or even with larger corporations like Publix or Whole Foods. Partnerships like these would grant teens the ability to have more opportunities to access driving education. Some driving schools also give out scholarships or grants, to help pay for the driver’s education courses. Furthermore, partnering with schools and community businesses/organizations will push more teenagers to want to learn healthier driving habits and not be as easily influenced by other poor decisions when driving.
It is proven that when more people participate in an activity, more people will want to join in, and it starts to become normalized. This phenomenon is known as the Bandwagon effect, discovered by Leibenstein, which “is a cognitive bias that leads us to adopt ways of thinking and acting simply because others are doing it” stated by Bryce Hoffman in the article Bandwagon Effect: What It Is And How To Overcome It. Many people enjoy or fall into following trends, so why not normalize positive driving habits that will not only positively impact teenagers but possibly current adult drivers.
There are also other factors that make driver’s education courses favorable, such as the decrease in falling into peer pressure. Many teens, even adults, and sometimes I am subject to falling to negative peer pressure. Peer pressure can come in forms of feeling obligated to play music loudly, driving fast, and tolerating a distracting environment created by peers. With driving, peer pressure can lead to serious implications, such as bad accidents or unwise decision making. In the article, Adolescents, Peers, and Motor Vehicles The Perfect Storm?, by Joseph Allen and Bradford Brown they discuss the higher likelihood of teenagers being easily influenced by their friends when driving for social acceptance. They are also focused on other factors such as, “maintaining and strengthening critical peer relationships” (Allen, Brown). There are also issues that arise with other personally created distractions such as overthinking, or one being in a rush to get somewhere. Taking driving courses can aid in lowering the likelihood of one being susceptible to peer pressure and helping to improve overall driving safety.
In the process of learning how to drive, I have gained many important lessons to always hold on to. One person in particular, my grandfather, has taught me many lessons in being a safe driver. Every time we go driving, he always reminds me to never let anyone bully me, to take my time, and to always be aware, whether that be looking through all the mirrors, looking at the road and to both sides, and watching what the second car in front of me is doing. The first time he took me on the expressway, the calmness and trust that he aided me granted me confidence even though I was still nervous. My grandfather is a prime representative of promoting safe driving and what that looks like. Through his teachings he instills safe and healthy driving habits that I will keep forever as I continue to become a better driver.






Works Cited
Allen, J., and B. Brown. “Adolescents, Peers, and Motor VehiclesThe Perfect Storm?” American Journal of Preventive Medicine, vol. 35, no. 3, Aug. 2008, pp. S289–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2008.06.017.
Hoffman, Bryce. “Bandwagon Effect: What It Is and How to Overcome It.” Forbes, 26 May 2024, www.forbes.com/sites/brycehoffman/2024/05/26/bandwagon-effect-what-it-is-and-how-to-overcome-it.