As a small child, you view driving as something that gives you freedom and independence. There’s no more waiting for mom or dad to take you places, instead, you can go out whenever you feel like it. Movies often show teenagers piled up in cars, blasting music, and having the time of their lives! Naturally, I was a little girl who couldn’t wait to get older, and eventually learn to drive. It’s something that catapults you into the next phase of life, elevating you from childhood, and giving you a taste of what adulthood is really like. Growing up is gaining the privilege to drive, but growing up is also realizing the weightiness of that ability. People love the idea of speeding down the highway, being distracted and carefree. That is, until they crash, turning their whole world upside down. Just a few weeks ago, I decided to upload a story on Instagram, but came across a post that stopped me in my tracks. I stared in disbelief at what I saw, and couldn’t grasp onto the emotions that I was feeling. In front of my eyes was a picture of a good friend from elementary school. Her face looked awful! It was bloody and badly beaten up. Her cheeks were puffed up, and she had a huge scar coming from the top of her head. Tears began to fill my eyes as I gained enough courage to read the caption of the post. She had been in a car with her friends from school. The driver was speeding, and she didn’t have her seatbelt on. It had rained a few days prior, so the roads were still wet and slippery. They crashed, and my friend flew forward, banging her face against the window. She had to get multiple stitches, but thankfully everyone in the car was okay! I took a breath, and was relieved that things hadn’t ended in a worse way. It was crazy how one second changed everything, and It scared me to think about how an 18 year old’s life could have been taken away in an instant. It reminded me of a vacation I had spent in Myrtle Beach. It was a couple years ago, and my family and I were spending the Holidays there. It was Christmas day, and my sisters, my parents, and I were waiting in the hotel room for my brothers to arrive. I’ll never forget the moment when my mom received a phone call from my brother. They had crashed on the way to us! The whole world seemed to pause, and all of our festive plans had been abruptly stopped. Besides a little whiplash, thankfully my brothers were both alright! Situations like this are what remind me of how vital it is to be educated on driving. At the end of the day, a car isn’t a toy, so it shouldn’t be treated as one. Whether it’s texting and driving, drinking, or not wearing a seatbelt, these are all things that can lead to serious and fatal outcomes. Every choice made while driving matters, and some people aren’t mature enough to understand that. I’ve heard countless stories of people bragging about going over the speed limit, or breaking rules while driving. Although their age permits them to drive, their maturity levels are clearly not on the same page. This is a serious issue that is causing the deaths of thousands of young people. In the United States alone, more than 2,000 teenagers die in a car crash every year! On average, around 8 people die in a car crash every single day! If a person drives recklessly, not only are they putting themself at risk, but they are endangering every other individual on the road. As a 16 year old who recently began driving, I have no intent of taking this knowledge lightly. I value my life, as well as other’s lives, so I will take every precaution necessary to ensure I drive in a safe and mature way. I have taken classes and courses regarding driving, because I understand how necessary it is to be safe. In life, everyone must make a series of decisions or choices. Some details, such as choosing an ice cream flavor or picking what color shirt to wear, aren’t very important. However, when it comes to vehicles, the actions you carry out can lead to life or death. At the end of the day, a car can be the cause of someone’s last breath, and it’s important that every single person who sits in front of a wheel counts the cost of their decisions.