It's Not Worth It

From the first time I got behind a wheel, I have been told by my parents that a car is a weapon, not a toy. Even though I am aware of this and treat it as such, as I look around the roads I have become cognizant of the fact that the majority of people do not see it this way. Every day, I see people on their phones, applying makeup, eating, or dealing with their screaming children in the back seat. The most important thing that these people need to realize is that they are putting not just themselves, but everyone else on the road in danger when they do these things. It is not worth it to increase the possiblility of taking some innocent person’s life. All of these things can wait. A solution to this problem is to put people through more difficult drivers ed classes. States need to make it more challenging for people to get their license. By making these classes more strenuous, it would help people realize how much of a responisbility driving really is. When I took my drivers ed class, my teacher was very strict about having your phone out in class. She had told us that the class was very important, and if we could not even keep our phones away for fifty minutes, how was she supposed to trust us to do so while driving? She taught us that it is not fair to put yourself and everyone else in danger over one dumb text message or snapchat. Not only should these classes and expectations be put on the new drivers, but the adults on the road should be required to take tests that are just as difficult periodically to be sure they are still being responsible drivers. When these people get older, they get much more comfortable with driving and do some things that are maybe not very responsible, so if they were required to take a class and a rigorous test periodically, it would enforce a more mindful way of driving. It is also up to law enforcement to be sure that they hold drivers accountable for their actions. If an officer sees a person driving in any way irresponsibly, then they need to give a consequence. As technology becomes more advanced, it is becoming easier and easier for people to get distracted while driving, but the most important thing to do is to be a good example for others and ensure that people are getting the proper education before getting behind the wheel.