Driving is a Privilege, Not an Opportunity

Growing up, I remember daydreaming of when I would finally be able to drive. I thought of all the cross-country trips my friends and I would take, and the freedom to finally take myself to my countless extracurricular activities. I was ignorant and had no idea of any of the responsibilities that came with driving, let alone how dangerous it is.

According to the CDC, in 2017, 2,364 teens ages 16-19 were killed, and 300,000 suffered injuries due to motor vehicle crashes. One of the biggest catalysts of car crashes is texting while driving, as it is a visual distraction, cognitive distraction, and manual distraction. Sending a text takes a driver’s eyes off the road for about 5 seconds, which is the length of a football field if driving at 55 mph.

Just last week, I was turning right onto a busy street and was almost rear-ended. I made sure to inch forward and check all areas of traffic to ensure I was able to safely make the turn, yet all of a sudden a large SUV came flying through. Thankfully the driver slammed on their breaks and narrowly avoided hitting me, but that didn't stop my adrenaline from rushing. Because I use safe driving practices, such as not texting while driving, I was able to exercise defensive driving and avoid a collision.

According to kidshealth.org, there are 8 key components to defensive driving, including:

1. Think safety first

2. Be aware of your surroundings- pay attention

3. Do not depend on other drivers

4. Follow the 3-4 second rule

5. Keep your speed down

6. Have an escape route

7. Separate risks

8. Cut out distractions

Defensive driving is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of an accident and the number of deaths caused by crashes. For this reason, it is one of the most important topics covered in drivers ed courses.

Regardless of any car safety features, it is ultimately the driver’s responsibility to safely operate the vehicle. Therefore, defensive driving must be utilized and distractions always be eliminated, leaving the driver focused on the road. After all, driving is a privilege, not an opportunity.

Sources:

"Teen Drivers: Get the Facts." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 30 Oct. 2019. Web. 30 Nov. 2019. <https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/teen_drivers/teendrivers_factsheet.html>.

"Distracted Driving." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 Sept. 2019. Web. 30 Nov. 2019. <https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/distracted_driving/index.html>.

"The Keys to Defensive Driving (for Teens) - Nemours KidsHealth." KidsHealth. Ed. Kurt E. Gray. The Nemours Foundation, Sept. 2016. Web. 30 Nov. 2019. <https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/driving-safety.html>.