Driving With Responsibility

     Most teenagers feel that getting a driving license is the ultimate thing that has happened in their life. Getting a license means freedom and independence from other people and being able to travel anywhere you want. With all the freedom comes a great responsibility because every time you drive a car, not only your life depends on the driver but the lives of others on the road as well. This is the reason why I believe that driver education is of great significance.
     In my opinion, driving safety took a personal turn when I got into an accident during my sophomore year in high school. Before the accident, I knew that accidents could occur, but I had no idea just how quickly a regular moment can become so scary. Following the accident, riding in cars became a difficult experience for me to undertake. I felt anxious about it, and sometime even had panic attacks during rides in cars. Even though I was out of the accident, I had a lingering fear since I knew how little control one could have in such a situation, where other people made decisions regarding your safety. 
     With the passage of time, I discovered how crucial it is for the driver to realize the responsibility that he or she is supposed to have when driving. The car is not just a mode of transportation but is also a strong machine which needs focus, patience, and maturity. Through my experience, I discovered that safe driving does not only involve your safety but also includes the safety of every other individual who uses the roads along with you. 
     One of the primary causes of loss of life in road accidents is due to preventable actions. Distracted driving, speeding, DUI, and lawlessness on the roads may result in dire consequences. Some individuals believe that particular actions are relatively safe since they did them previously without any accident. Nevertheless, there should be no place for taking chances while on the roads, and a driver should not have to learn his lesson from a misfortune.
     Distracted driving has emerged as one of the major issues due to the excessive use of technology. Receiving a message or notification might be a small action, but just a few seconds of distraction can make a drastic difference in a person’s life. Driver education must teach that no phone call, text, or notification from social networking sites matters more than reaching your destination safely.
     In order to decrease the number of driving fatalities, driver education must do more than teach students how to take the driver’s test. The students need to be made aware of the true repercussions of irresponsible driving, which could be done through personal accounts, simulations, and discussions with individuals affected by an accident. This way, the students will realize that their actions have consequences.
     Safety of the roads can also be ensured through communities engaging in better awareness campaigns, law enforcement, and instilling good practices from a young age. Adults have an integral part to play here because children learn by observation, and thus if adults engage in safe practices such as wearing their seat belts, observing speed limits, and avoiding distractions, then in future this becomes a habit for children.
     In addition, my personal experience has helped me learn what actions I need to take to become a better driver. I would like to always stay alert, refrain from using my phone while driving, abide by traffic regulations, and never let other people's pressure influence my decisions on the road. In addition, I would like to motivate my friends and relatives to make the right decision. When I observe another person driving dangerously, I would like to be bold enough to address that issue since the person's life is more important than embarrassment.
     While my car crash was a challenging event, it has definitely changed the way I see driving. It has taught me to pay attention to the importance of being responsible and attentive while you are driving. It has also helped me to realize that there is a person and his or her family behind each statistical number.
     As I go on in life pursuing my dreams of becoming a prosecutor, I aspire to keep on fighting for safety and accountability within my community. This is because I realize that it only takes a split-second decision to bring about negative impacts on the lives of many people.
     Ultimately, driving is an honor that comes with responsibility. In every instance when somebody gets into a vehicle, he or she has the opportunity to save or to take lives away. With the help of knowledge and awareness, we can minimize the number of avoidable accidents.