At 16, the majority of teenagers across America will get their license. The sense of freedom to roam around town, pick your friends up, not have to worry about your parents in the passenger seat all sounds like a luxury. But as young-minded, inexperienced drivers, we often will forget traffic laws, or be less aware of other drivers, thus leading to many fatal and life threatening accidents. Driver's education teaches the importance of traffic laws and self awareness on the road.
Driver's education is the first step in that long road to independent driving. But, most take it as a road to the permit test. Where all you do is shovel knowledge into your brian, memorize and spill it out on a piece of paper; only to forget a majority of it a few months later. Nowadays we hear about the advanced technology of cars, such as blind spot lights, back up cameras, the ability to detect other cars and people around us. It’s almost as if people have stopped relying on driver's education and more on artificial intelligence. We have become heavily dependent on the updated technology of cars that drivers tend to make careless mistakes without fully considering their actions.
I take the free way to school every day and although it is a quick and short route, I have to be extra aware of the other drivers around me who are attempting to merge without turn signals, not check their blind spots or enter at a dangerously slow pace. One thing my parents reminded me of when I started driving was to be extra aware of the people around me. With all the knowledge I had taken in, staying aware of the other cars and signals around me has saved my life several times. I think every driver needs to practice this, not just new ones. If people were more cautious of the other cars and people around them, traffic accidents would decrease majorly.
Another point that is stressed is distracted driving. We’re all so hooked to our phones and it can be easy to pick up and read and text or answer a call right when we see it. Even though people think they’re aware of what’s in front or around them, they are not. It’s very easy to look away and end up in the back of someone's car with an injury because your friend sent you a message.
Muscle cars are super big among teenagers. Who doesn't want to drive a super fast and cool looking car? I know I want to. Even though these cars look and sound cool, it doesn't mean they’re the safest. I know people who think speeding is super fun and recording how they can get from 0 to 100 in seconds is the best part of their day. But when you're speeding AND looking at your phone to record yourself, you’re putting your life and many others in danger.
These are some of the concerns I have noticed when driving and I believe should be addressed more. Along with retaking the written test, I think everyone should have to retake their drivers test every 10-20 years, just to stay up to date with driving laws and to test road safety. I think they should retake the whole course with the drivers education, written and behind the wheel test to stress the importance of safe driving and road knowledge. Annual deaths by driving should be shared more publicly as a way to educate people to be more cautious on the road and practice safe driving.
The safety of myself and others is a number one priority on the road as it was taught to me by my parents and drivers education. The advanced technology of cars is fun and useful, but people should know to not rely on it as it can keep them more aware of their surroundings.
Drunk driving is very common and in my city I have noticed more accidents caused by DUIs between other cars and pedestrians. Drunk Drivers should be cleared off the road more, and we should be aware of people under the influence in the day time and night. All drivers should be taught how drugs and alcohol can affect your vision and reaction time, as well as be presented with deaths and accidents caused by DUIs to bring more awareness to this issue. Although there isn't much beyond these perceptions, drivers should be comfortable with speaking up against someone breaking the law and putting others at risk.
Too many family members and friends have been in horrible crashes either due to distracted driving of their driver being under the influence. I have been almost caught in the same ones due to others not paying attention on the road. I would like to address driver education in my town and across the United States in order to keep myself, my family, my friends and others safe. Let's decrease the amount of car crashes per year.