At the ripe age of 16, driving is by far one of the things teenagers look forward to. The natural tendency of a teenager is wanting to become more like an adult, hence the first step for many is learning how to drive. The idea of finally achieving that freedom of being able to drive wherever and whenever is certainly appealing. However, we often forget about the dangers that come along with being on the road. Safe driving is often foreign to teenagers as many are obsessed with their phones, looking cool, and skip out on attending drivers ed. In order to ensure safe driving, all teenagers who are in the process of obtaining their license should be well educated with the hazards and safety regulations.

Driving is known to be one of the most dangerous and death leading activities that we participate in daily. Yet, many underestimate the true risks of what unsafe driving could potentially lead to. As technology continues to advance and become even more addicting, teenagers fall into victims of distracted driving. The constant texting to a friend, checking social media, or even just the action of pressing the skip button on a certain song, all contribute to the dangers of the road. Post COVID-19, it is obvious that teenagers have become a lot more reliant and dependent on their mobile devices. We no longer can live without just setting our phones down for ten minutes. When we are stopped at a red light, all people are taught– or should have been taught– to always keep both hands on the wheel. However, many of us fall into the temptation of picking up our phones. By losing focus of the road in front of us, the risk of danger significantly increases. We not only impose danger on ourselves but others on the road as well.

Our phones and social media apps are programmed to be addicting. The people who are constantly developing these are doing it with the purpose of wanting everyone to be obsessed with the apps. Obviously, it has been very successful, especially among this new generation. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the use of cell phones has caused 3,275 deaths in 2023. Only four months ago, there was a student from my current high school who was involved in a huge accident just a couple blocks from where I live. This student was driving at night and had gone on his phone. Already having limited vision due to the time of day, he even was preoccupied with his mobile device that he had not noticed the elderly woman crossing the road. It was said that he was not under the influence, speeding, or had done any sorts of drugs. This accident which ended with the death of this elderly woman was all due to the student’s poor decision to use his phone. Deadly accidents do not require drivers to be intoxicated, all it takes is to be distracted by your mobile device. Accidents can easily be avoided just by practicing what it is to be a safe driver.

Peer pressure indeed plays a huge role when it comes to the life of teenagers. We are so focused on wanting to fit in and look “cool” among the other kids, which causes us to make decisions that may not be right. Just three days ago, I drove one of my friends for the first time, since I had obtained my license. As we exit the school parking lot, he begins to make the remark that I look “uncool” when I drive. I was never conscious about the way I drove till he had made this observation that I drove with two hands. In the world of teenagers, appearance is often prioritized over actual safety. There are multiple car accidents that I have heard of at my school as well as on social media. One thing that they all had in common was the fact they are all people who care too much about how they look when they drive. Through this, I was able to realize that once we shift our priorities and concentration away from the road and onto irrelevant proponents, that is when accidents are most likely to occur.

Driver’s education is a way that teenagers can learn the safety regulations and requirements when driving. Through driver’s ed, students learn how we can avoid certain accidents and how to address certain situations. For example, hydroplaning occurs when a vehicle loses traction, especially when the roads are wet. Hydroplaning can lead to drastic situations where a driver loses control of their vehicle. I personally had no idea what hydroplaning was and that it had even existed. However, after taking the driver’s ed course, I was able to learn that some ways to prevent hydroplaning is to drive slower on rainy days, avoid wet spots on roads, and to switch out tires when needed. This shows how my knowledge was very limited prior to taking this driver’s education course. By learning how cars work, it encourages drivers to be more knowledgeable with how we can maneuver in order to prevent hazardous situations.

This education system for students may be greatly beneficial, however many teenagers often wait till the age of 18 to avoid taking driver’s ed. The reason behind this is simple: driver’s ed is expensive. Driver's education can range from anywhere between $300-$500, which for many teenagers, may be out of their budget. If students continue to skip over driver’s ed, they are not well known with how to be a responsible and cautious driver. Many of the knowledge may be common sense, such as: don’t be distracted, don’t drink alcohol before driving, maintain a good distance, however, there is more to driver’s ed than the basis. Dangerous driving is being more and more promoted as the prices to take this class continue to stay at a hefty cost. Although there are cheaper programs provided by schools, the seats available are very limited. At my highschool, the driver’s education program only takes place during spring break. Naturally, every student wants this opportunity of receiving this instruction at a cheaper and more reasonable cost. Communities could greatly impact teenagers to become safer drivers if they required all driver’s education programs to collectively lower their costs. With prices at a lower range, students would be a lot more open towards attending.

Driving is a privilege and not a right. All teenagers must remember that their license can easily be revoked. Practicing safe driving should always be prioritized because accidents occur at unpredictable times. In the world of teenagers, there are different priorities. Yet, we, as a community, should start normalizing safety as the new definition of cool. Teenagers that are so caught up in wanting to show off and fit in with the others are bound to get involved in some sort of accident. Gratefully, I have not personally experienced any tragic incidents due to the fact that I have constantly been following safety regulations. However, in the world we live in today, car accidents are a lot more common and apparent. Hence, all people should become more educated regarding how to practice safe driving, whether that is by taking driver’s education or taking your time to become more familiar with your car and the various situations you may encounter.