We take a risk every time we step into a car. This is an unavoidable part of life, but it’s crucial to minimize the amount of risk we take when we drive or sit as a passenger in a vehicle. With proper education, teenage and young adult drivers will have a safer experience on the road. Fortunately, many schools across the country offer driver’s education courses for all students eligible. The only requirement is a driver’s permit. I have taken advantage of this opportunity and completed the class the second semester of my junior year. The class taught me the basics of driving as well as small things that tend to be forgotten. I’m very grateful I was able to take the course, as it is normally very full and hard to get into. Unfortunately, even with this education available, our nation still has alarming rates of teenage and young adult car accidents and fatalities.
Car accidents can happen anywhere. Whether you’re in a city, a small town, or on a quiet back road. Wherever you are, it’s important to stay alert and ready for anything. Too many times I’ve looked in the car next to me and seen a driver on their phone. One look down at your phone screen could cost you or someone else things you will never get back. The text, the call, or any notification is simply not worth it. Keeping our eyes on the road should be the number one priority for all drivers. As well, the speed limit is there for a reason. There are driving curfew restrictions for minors for a reason. Unfortunately, I have seen the effect on young drivers of late night driving and recklessness in my own town.
Over the summer of 2023, there was an accident. It included three boys, two of which went to the same school as me. The accident happened around 12:45 am. The boy driving had not had any drugs or alcohol of any sort. Two of his friends were also in the car. The driver was speeding, and a sharp turn in the road met them rapidly. The boy driving lost control, and the car ended up crashing into the base of a tree. The driver died in the car, he was 17. The two other 16 year old boys were brought to the hospital in critical condition. Sadly, only one of them lived. The entire town mourned the deaths of the teens. I had never spoken to either, but I couldn’t even imagine what their families were going through. My mom actually worked with one of the boy’s mothers. When I asked how the boy’s mom was, my own mother couldn't even hold back her tears, telling me how his mom immediately cried when asked if she was doing okay. A wave of grief and sadness came over the community.
Unfortunately, this is not a unique occurance. The lives that were lost and the pain that was caused is irreversible. No mother or father should have to outlive their child. No one should witness the death of their friend. I didn’t know either of the deceased boys at all, but that doesn’t matter. The sadness can be understood by anyone who hears about it. I still go to school with the one surviving boy. If I’m being honest, he is an interesting character and I even find him difficult to tolerate, but this doesn’t stop me from seeing him as a kid who’s seen more than he should. I feel sorry when I watch him laugh constantly and make jokes that really just aren’t funny. I don’t know him well, but I’ll never forget what he’s been through. Sadly, If they hadn’t been out past curfew, and hadn’t been speeding, this tragedy wouldn’t have happened.
Driver’s education is so important for our youth. What we learn from it can carry us from teenage drivers to safe and skilled adult drivers. Another part of the solution may be for teens to understand that they should not rush to get their driver’s license. Like any responsibility, you should only have it when you're ready and have had enough practice. Driving safely starts with information. Having a driver's education class available to high school students is an amazing step towards a lower rate of car accidents. Decisions that are made while driving can cost us our life, or someone else’s. Every parent should get to see their child walk across the stage on graduation day.