Its beyond just a license.

Young teens often look forward to driving and the freedom that seems to come with it as well. It is something widely anticipated, I think when you actually get to the point of being behind the wheel Everything Changes. The transition from being in the passenger seat to your hands now being on the wheel, although it is one seat away it's an extreme shift. From being a passenger almost all my life so far I have been in the hands of somebody else, but now the idea of myself being in control is a realization of putting myself in danger or even others who are on the road at the same time.

Driving education is crucial to reducing the number of deaths on the road because the more you study, learn and practice something the better you get at it. Most teens are heavily influenced by the people around them so if they're seeing their friend drive wild it might want to inspire them to do the same. Driving education is a tool that everyone should see as important. It gives you social awareness, makes you begin to have good judgment and teaches you to predict unpredictable things. Not only do knowing these things help you to be a better driver but at the same time it's making you a safer driver reducing the risk of death or injuries. One of the leading causes of death in teenagers today is death in accidents. An article by Coastline Written by Nigel Tunnacliff covering teen driving fatalities wrote, “ In 2023, 3048 teens, ages 13 to 19 died in crashes and 3,262 people were killed in crashes involving a teen driver” (Tunnacliffe). Seeing the statistics not only makes me sad for the people involved but also anxious and nervous to even begin driving knowing that I could be one of those teens. Being a safe driver does not always mean that you will never get into an accident but being a safe driver does mean that it will lower your chances of being in an accident or the one causing it. 

We need change. We need stricter rules and enforcement to make sure these rules are followed. A lot of people do things such as speeding and being extremely reckless because they feel they can get away with it. If we start at the root and treat driving as an importance it will become one. I think today with how advanced the world is we can also install more features in cars as well.. Automatic brakes could be a good thing helping prevent an accident when our human reaction time may not be good enough. Ultimately, change shouldn't be up to the designers of the cars but it should be up to the person behind the wheel, it should be a choice to keep your focus only on the road. Not letting distractions get to your head, music being too loud or just simply looking down at your phone and most importantly never being afraid to speak up. If you see someone recklessly driving tell them to stop or report them, someone's feelings getting hurt does not compare to your life on the line or theirs.

I myself have never had an experience of being in a car accident. I've never felt the tragedy that people have, but like any other I've seen people driving irresponsibly. whether I'm in the car with them or viewing from an outside perspective. 

            A few days ago this man came to our school. Rolling in on a wheelchair, I had heard from previous classes what he would be talking about so instantly I assumed it was an effect of being in an accident. He then went on to explain the story of how it happened. He was young, drunk, speeding and he crashed, his life flashed before his eyes. Himself in the driver's seat, his friend in the passenger seat. The man then tells us he is now paralyzed from the armpits down, having to now navigate his life in a wheelchair. It's like starting over. He pauses and says that his best friend that was in the passenger seat did not make it that night. The pain he must have felt is a feeling I can only imagine.

To increase road safety and decrease motor accidents the change must first start with you. Be aware, be cautious and realize that driving should not be taken lightly but instead be safe and thought through. Making sure you are well rested and capable of being alert on the road.

Driving is not a gift it is a privilege it is a responsibility because not just everyone can go behind the wheel. Following the rules and knowing the ways of the road saves lives.