Izzy
Romeo
Eyes
Forward, Hands at 10 and 2
Parents
do their best to protect their kids from the dangers of life,
starting with lessons like not crossing the street without looking
both ways. Despite parents’ best efforts, sometimes they lose
control of the metaphorical wheel when it comes to their children’s
safety. This is what devastatingly happened to my friend’s brother
in November of 2019. As he was speeding on a busy road late at night
while sober, he lost control of his car, spun into a tree, and
suffered severe bodily injuries. Doctors said he could make a full
recovery until realizing that his brain had irreversible damage. Our
community has been shattered by his loss, and his family is
completely devastated.

When
thinking about my friend’s brother, I reflect on my own driving
habits and whether I am always making responsible decisions. I began
driving in parking lots at fourteen, completed drivers ed, and
got my license right after my sixteenth birthday. I was well-versed
in the rules of the road, but not everyone has this same experience.
For some, drivers ed is not a state requirement like in
California, immediately impacting their safety, knowledge, and
attitude towards being a responsible driver. According to the US
Department of Transportation, a positive impact of drivers ed
has been shown in decreasing crashes among new drivers. This shows
the importance of drivers ed on reducing the number of deaths
from driving, a total of 34,000 per year. However, my friend’s
brother was a resident of California, a state that requires driver
education. To this fact, I believe it highlights the increase in
comfort and decrease in responsible decisions after an individual
obtains their license. It also shows that more than drivers ed
is needed to inform novice drivers. The solution to this reality? I
believe drivers ed should first be mandated in all states,
classes about driving should be created in high school, and the use
of the “Every 15 Minutes” program should increase. By adding a
class in high school and attaching a grade to the class, students may
take the issue more seriously. In addition, the “Every 15 Minutes”
program could provide a “real” example of what happens with poor
decisions. While it may not impact everyone the same, increasing the
use of this program could spread knowledge about how big of a
responsibility driving is. This is something I think about constantly
with three younger sisters. By looking at my impact on them as future
drivers, I can take steps to be a better example, increasing mine and
their future safety.
While
drivers ed is incredibly important, shifting educational
requirements and increasing the use of the “Every 15 Minutes”
program are steps I believe could further decrease the number of
deaths from driving. Not only does this increase everyone’s chances
of making smarter and safer decisions in a car, but it helps create a
world of safer drivers, a future that my friend’s brother will not
get to see.


Work
Cited


Chaudhary,
Neil, et al. “Drivers ed Practices In Selected
States.” National
Highway

Traffic
Safety Administration, National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, July


2011,
www.adtsea.org/webfiles/fnitools/documents/nhtsa-driver-ed-practices-selected-



states-report.pdf.