I live in Texas, in the Houston metropolitan area. Texas has the second largest population of any US state, and Houston has the fifth largest populated urban area in the US. With such a highly populated state and metro area, there are lots of drivers, and there are lots of teenage drivers. In addition, there are lots of fatal car crashes involving teens. According to studies Texas has the 10th highest fatal teen driver crash rate in the U.S., with 6.17 deaths per 10,000 licensed drivers. Texas has averaged about 140 teen driver deaths per year over the past decade. Some of the contributing factors involved in the fatal crashes were driver immaturity, disregard for traffic safety laws, and speeding. As a teenage driver, I know how important it is to practice safe driving habits. The best way to practice safe driving habits is to learn safe driving habits at the beginning through driver's education. In Texas, first time drivers under the age of 25 are required to complete a driver education course, and they must present proof of completion, the Texas Driver Education Certificate, at the driver license office. Drivers education is so important because that is where new drivers learn and understand the laws and rules of the road. They also learn vehicle control, how to understand traffic signs and signals, and how to react in emergencies. Drivers education teaches skills that will help drivers to drive safely and with confidence, which can help prevent accidents and make our roads safer.
There are four steps that I suggest be taken to reduce the number of traffic fatalities. All four of these steps are habits that I faithfully practice. The first one is to follow posted speed limits as speed is one of the top causes of traffic fatalities. Another factor contributing to traffic fatalities is distracted driving. The second step that I suggest is that the driver should put their phone on “Do Not Disturb” before they begin driving. That way, they are not distracted by phone calls or text messages and are not tempted to answer them while driving. The third step is for the driver to use a phone holder to hold their phone instead of holding it in their hand while using it for directions. This is a practice that I learned from my mother, and it works well. Last but not least, it is extremely important to wear seatbelts. I have seen first-hand the benefits of wearing a seatbelt, as well as the consequences of not wearing a seatbelt.. In May 2022, I was a passenger in the car with one of my closest friends. My friend was driving, and through no fault of his own, a truck hit us. My airbag deployed, and I had to crawl out of my friend’s car on the driver’s side in order to get out. My friend’s car was totaled. Fortunately, we both wore seat belts and walked away shaken but unharmed. In September of 2022, another close friend of mine was a passenger in a car accident. He and a classmate were on their way to our homecoming parade. The classmate driving quickly turned onto a highway exit, causing the accident. The car rolled over multiple times. My friend was wearing a seatbelt, but the classmate who was driving was not, and she was ejected from the vehicle. My friend walked away unharmed, but my classmate almost died. She suffered multiple injuries, was in a coma, and is now in rehabilitation to learn to walk again.
This accident made local and national news and significantly impacted our community. It made me and my fellow high school students more mindful of how important it is to practice safe driving habits. One split-second decision can change or end your life. These firsthand experiences with car accidents have really impacted me and have made me a better, more cautious driver. I now make sure that I leave earlier when I am going somewhere so that I can get there on time and not feel tempted or pressured to speed.. I am diligent about putting my phone on Do Not Disturb before I start driving, and putting my phone in a phone holder so that I won't be distracted and my hands are free. I have always worn a seatbelt and will continue to use one every time I am in a car, whether I am a driver or a passenger. I will continue to practice these safe driving habits as a way of life, and I will encourage my friends and anyone I ride with to do the same.