Driving has become a key staple in most Americans' lives. Whether driving to the grocery store on a Sunday morning or picking up your kids from soccer practice on a Friday night, it is safe to say the average American drives a lot! Additionally, it is no surprise that, “76 percent of young people aged 15 or younger…, report that they are ‘very’ interested in getting a license as soon as they can.” according to the National Library of Medicine, a government website. While it is great that teens are excited and eager to begin their driving journey, like everything else in our lives, education is powerful and important. If we are required to go to college for a job that we spend eight hours a day doing, then we should also be educated in one of the other things we do every day too,-drive. Teen driving safety along with education cannot be ignored, education leads to confidence on the road. Driver education builds foundational skills and knowledge on the road, it inspires teens to be safe and calm when driving, (and not to be reckless on the streets.) Teens that have the privilege of having an instructor by their side tend to be safer drivers nationwide. A study done in University of Nebraska-Lincoln found that drivers who did not take driver's education had an 8% higher chance of getting ticketed than those who did. When you are a safe driver that means those around you feel safe also. They do not feel pressured to let you pass or worried about getting hit by an unsafe driver.
Some challenges teens drivers face in today's world are heightened phone use, loud music, and distracting passengers. In a world so dominated by the use of technology it can be hard to put down your phone, even while driving. This has led to an epidemic of teen crashes and deaths, over a text that most of the time could have just been sent a few minutes later when the driver arrived at their destination. Along with that comes loud and distracting music. This can cause problems in parking lots where you can’t hear someone yelling at you before you back into a car or when you are on the road and cannot hear an emergency vehicle trying to pass. Distractions by passengers can also lead to a higher chance of getting into a serious accident. According to the National Library of Medicine teenage driving was, “96% higher among those with risky friends.” What can be some solutions to help with these challenges teen drivers face on the roads? First, teen drivers can choose carefully whom they let into the car with them when driving. Passengers can have the biggest impact on what you do while driving and can be a factor in if you participate in any of the three challenges drivers face listed above. They can determine how your ride turns out and even how confident you feel behind the wheel. Along with that, it is also important to become more knowledgeable in safe driving practices. Whether from driving school or another form of (drivers Ed). Students should also be aware of the risks they pose to the public when driving recklessly, and even driving in general. By being upfront with teens about the risks an unsafe, uneducated driver poses to other drivers, they will often be safer drivers themselves.
As a student who has taken driving school I have noticed that I am less prone to making rash, unsafe decisions on the road. I know what risks I pose to other drivers and I know I can help inspire other current and future drivers to be safe on the road by my behavior. One story that stuck out to me from my personal experience in driving school was of a student who had just entered the (drivers Ed. program) and had just learned to always look both ways before going across intersections even when the light had just turned green. The next week the student returned to the class and shared how they had experienced a car run a red light right in front of them, and if they hadn’t looked first before proceeding into the intersection they would have gotten hit. Instead, they looked both ways and saw the car speeding up to cross the intersection trying to get past during the yellow light, which turned red before they made it through. Even though it was not my own experience, this story was still an important corner-stone of my driving education. This shows how even though I took driving school years ago this story still runs in my mind after every green light and I remember to look around before proceeding forward. I was able to learn and become more aware of common driving dangers by attending driving school and learning from others.
What can ALL of us do to help beginning teen drivers be safer on the roads? Initially, we can be aware. We can realize that not everyone will be educated about how to act on the road. We can see what is going on and share with others what we noticed on the road, as you never know who you will inspire to be a safer driver from sharing your experiences. Schools can also offer (drivers Ed programs) for youth who would like to attend. Knowledge is power on the road, and if teens can see the serious consequences of not driving safely, then they may be more open and willing to be safer drivers in the future. Along with this, having safe spaces for students to learn can be very important for beginning drivers. This offers them an opportunity to learn without being worried about making a mistake and hurting themselves or someone else. To have safe roads means we all, not just teens, need to take responsibility. The older drivers should help educate the younger, and the younger drivers should be humble and take into account what the more experienced drivers have to share. By raising young, confident drivers, we can help make America's roads a safer place for all.