One Click Away From a Statistic

Everyone knows someone whose life has been affected or tragically cut short by a car crash. The reality of driving is unforgiving; even the most experienced, careful drivers on earth are susceptible to the unpredictable dangers of the road. Knowing this, imagine the immense risk that completely new, inexperienced drivers face every single day. A vast majority of young drivers go into the roadways without a true grasp of the rules, regulations, and real-life hazards of driving. While this is the unfortunate reality, there are active decisions and proactive choices we can make as individuals and as a society to drastically reduce the thousands of road deaths we lose every year. 

In today's society we live in a generation completely dominated by technology. We are constantly immersed in our personal devices which have become added into our daily routines. More than anything documenting and updating our lives on social media has become the new norm. Every day I see my friends uploading quick snapshots of their lives on Instagram, TikTok, and other platforms. In my own life there was a moment where I was almost a single snapshot away from becoming a part of the tragic statistic of youth fatalities on the road.

 I'm currently 17 years old, but this pivotal incident took place when I was just 15 and holding only my learner's permit. I was practicing driving with my dad at a local park. After watching me handle the car smoothly my dad said I was doing well enough to practice on my own. He stepped out and let me drive by myself around a quiet circular area where I could practice basic turning and parking. I was ecstatic and overflowing with excitement. I felt like I had mastered basic car knowledge and was finally ready for independence. I started driving in the little loop carefully repeating everything my dad had taught me. But then a reckless idea popped into my head- wrapped up in the typical mindset of a 15-year-old I decided to film a video and take photos of myself driving so I could boast about it all on my Instagram account. 

I parked off to the side of the road carefully propping my phone up against the dashboard and hit record. With my device set up I began driving around the park loop again, feeling proud thinking my plan was coming along perfectly until I almost caused an angle collision. Because I wasn't highly focused on the road, and instead looking at my phone screen and chasing the perfect camera angle I completely failed to notice another vehicle entering the park and in a split second panic I had to slam violently on the brakes. It was a terrifying unexplainable moment that permanently altered my outlook on driving. It was the scariest experience of my life and it had felt like my entire world was about to end. One capture of a flash almost ended the rest of my future. 

This wake-up call taught me why comprehensive driver's education is so vital. Driving is far more than just memorizing basic rules to pass a test, it requires a strong moral obligation to protect yourself and the hundreds of other lives sharing the road. Driver's education cannot be rushed, and is a vital process that guarantees a new driver is  mentally and emotionally prepared for the road. Learning the meaning of different signs and memorizing different rules is important, but driver's education must also address the unspoken rules of maturity, focus, and peer pressure. It needs to give young drivers the confidence and tools to handle real-world blocks and modern-day digital distractions.

To combat this epidemic of distracted driving we must take the initiative to implement better educational programs. As a society we should develop raw but engaging educational videos targeted specifically at new drivers. We need to introduce school-wide programs that highlight the unspoken responsibilities of driving and present teenagers with the blunt terrifying reality of car crash statistics. Enforcing this reality will help young adults and teens respect the power of a vehicle. I myself as a teen driver have implemented strict rules to guarantee my safety and the safety of others. When I get into my car my phone is immediately placed inside the console and connected strictly to the vehicle's bluetooth eliminating the temptation to look at a screen. I remain highly alert to my surroundings at all times, and if an emergency arises where I absolutely must look at my phone, I will always find the nearest parking lot to pull over safely. Moving forward we must make proactive choices to build confident responsible drivers. Confidence is important but your achievements never need to be at risk for social media posts at the expense of your life. Change the statistic; don’t be a part of it!