Attaining your driver’s license is a milestone in your life. You remember the day you passed the exam. You remember how excited you were to drive to a friend’s house by yourself. Teens are so excited to have this new found freedom a car gives you.. Not having your parents drive you around or drop you off at your friend’s house is liberating. This independence usurps safety and the seriousness of driving. More and more deaths are caused each year by distracted driving, cell phone use, and driving under the influence.
Teen driver safety is an important public issue. “ In America, an average of 34,000 die each year as a result of driving.” Too often we hop in our car, turn on our playlist, and drive off without thinking about the severity and privilege it is to drive. Too often we forget that when we drive we have our life in our hands as well as every other person on the road or street. Too often it is forgotten that driving is a life or death situation. We need to remind ourselves how serious it is without losing a loved one or having a close call.
Unfortunately, people are consumed by their cell phones whether it be at the dinner table, classroom, driving, or on the couch. Cell phones are indispensable. People always have them, hold them, and look at them. This is especially true while driving. Teenagers think it is okay and safe to scroll their cell phone at a red light, stop sign, or less congested area, but it is NOT. Looking at your Instagram page or Tike Tok will cost you a human life. It is not worth it.
Distracted driving, primarily with cell phones is the biggest challenge and concern in the United States. Cell phone use has become an addiction and overrides safety on the road. Taking your eyes off the road for one second will end a life. To me, it’s a simple solution to put your cell phone in the trunk. It’s impossible to reach while driving. Not the glove box, so you can reach for it. The temptation is too great for a cell phone to be within reach while driving. The trunk is out of reach.
Also, there should be more education about the dangers of driving in the Driver Education handbook or class. In the CA driver’s license permit book there are few pages dedicated to it. There should be more questions on the permit test about distracted driving, so teenagers take it more seriously.
Another action that should be taken falls upon parents and friends. Parents should avoid calling/texting their teen when he or she is driving. Instead ask to be called before leaving a place and when arriving at the next destination. Teens should also set the “do not disturb” setting on the phone while driving.
Schools can start discussing distracted driving at school. Assemblies are a great way to get this message across and having survivors talk to students about their car accident caused by distracted driving. I will be a senior this year and my school has not mentioned, discussed or held an assembly in distracted driving. This is a shame. Teachers can also mention it weekly in class. Cell phones are a problem in the classroom, but it just takes a teacher to mention the severity .distracted driving to make a change. The more it is talked about the less likely the message is forgotten.
Unfortunately, we all know someone who was involved in a car accident or fatality. This often is a wake up call to drive more safely, but then subsidies over time. Personally, my freshman year, my classmate was killed in a car accident just 6 days before summer break. She was leaving a high school graduation when a truck ran a red light and killed her instantly. Everytime I pass that intersection, I say a prayer and think of her. She was celebrating a graduation, wearing her seatbelt, following traffic laws when someone else wasn’t. It reminds me that life is too short, but every time you enter a car, it is a serious matter. The other driver was reckless, stupid, and irresponsible. He killed my friend.
In conclusion, teen driver safety is an important issue and needs more awareness to protect and save lives. At home, school, community, and state more awareness needs to happen, so teens realize the dangers of driving. Getting your driver’s and driving is a life or death responsibility. Let’s not wait to make a change before someone else gets killed or seriously injured .Keep your eyes on the road and cell phones in the trunk.
Teen driver safety is an important public issue. “ In America, an average of 34,000 die each year as a result of driving.” Too often we hop in our car, turn on our playlist, and drive off without thinking about the severity and privilege it is to drive. Too often we forget that when we drive we have our life in our hands as well as every other person on the road or street. Too often it is forgotten that driving is a life or death situation. We need to remind ourselves how serious it is without losing a loved one or having a close call.
Unfortunately, people are consumed by their cell phones whether it be at the dinner table, classroom, driving, or on the couch. Cell phones are indispensable. People always have them, hold them, and look at them. This is especially true while driving. Teenagers think it is okay and safe to scroll their cell phone at a red light, stop sign, or less congested area, but it is NOT. Looking at your Instagram page or Tike Tok will cost you a human life. It is not worth it.
Distracted driving, primarily with cell phones is the biggest challenge and concern in the United States. Cell phone use has become an addiction and overrides safety on the road. Taking your eyes off the road for one second will end a life. To me, it’s a simple solution to put your cell phone in the trunk. It’s impossible to reach while driving. Not the glove box, so you can reach for it. The temptation is too great for a cell phone to be within reach while driving. The trunk is out of reach.
Also, there should be more education about the dangers of driving in the Driver Education handbook or class. In the CA driver’s license permit book there are few pages dedicated to it. There should be more questions on the permit test about distracted driving, so teenagers take it more seriously.
Another action that should be taken falls upon parents and friends. Parents should avoid calling/texting their teen when he or she is driving. Instead ask to be called before leaving a place and when arriving at the next destination. Teens should also set the “do not disturb” setting on the phone while driving.
Schools can start discussing distracted driving at school. Assemblies are a great way to get this message across and having survivors talk to students about their car accident caused by distracted driving. I will be a senior this year and my school has not mentioned, discussed or held an assembly in distracted driving. This is a shame. Teachers can also mention it weekly in class. Cell phones are a problem in the classroom, but it just takes a teacher to mention the severity .distracted driving to make a change. The more it is talked about the less likely the message is forgotten.
Unfortunately, we all know someone who was involved in a car accident or fatality. This often is a wake up call to drive more safely, but then subsidies over time. Personally, my freshman year, my classmate was killed in a car accident just 6 days before summer break. She was leaving a high school graduation when a truck ran a red light and killed her instantly. Everytime I pass that intersection, I say a prayer and think of her. She was celebrating a graduation, wearing her seatbelt, following traffic laws when someone else wasn’t. It reminds me that life is too short, but every time you enter a car, it is a serious matter. The other driver was reckless, stupid, and irresponsible. He killed my friend.
In conclusion, teen driver safety is an important issue and needs more awareness to protect and save lives. At home, school, community, and state more awareness needs to happen, so teens realize the dangers of driving. Getting your driver’s and driving is a life or death responsibility. Let’s not wait to make a change before someone else gets killed or seriously injured .Keep your eyes on the road and cell phones in the trunk.
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Bridging Fear with Responsibility: A Reflection on Teen Driver Safety
Michael Beck
