One Text is the Cost

Driving is a game of dominos. Whatever you do the person behind you has to react. If you slam of breaks the person behind will slam on breaks, if you pass a yellow light the person behind you might try to take it as well, and the speed you drive is the speed the person behind you will drive as well. Everything you do on the road has a consequence. That's why education before getting behind the wheel is so important. Driver education plays a crucial role by equipping drivers with essential knowledge, spatial awareness, and risk management skills before they navigate traffic independently. Beyond simply learning traffic laws, formal training instills defensive driving techniques, emphasizing the split-second decisions needed to avoid collisions. By teaching inexperienced drivers how to recognize hazards and stay vigilant to what is around them, while also handling the harsh weather conditions, and anticipate the unpredictable behavior of others, driver education replaces panicked reactions with calm, trained instincts, directly lowering the likelihood of fatal accidents.

To reduce driving-related deaths, a combination of stricter policy and enforcement, infrastructure improvements, and widespread behavioral shifts is necessary. Implementing comprehensive hands-free driving laws and enforcing harsher penalties for doing things like driving under the influence, speeding, and distracted driving will hold all drivers on all roads in the U.S accountable for their actions behind the wheel. Upgrading roadway infrastructure, such as installing clearer signage, protected turn lanes, and improved night lighting creates safer driving environments. Normalizing peer accountability and public awareness campaigns about the consequences of reckless driving for drivers of all ages, this shifts social norms toward prioritizing safety over convenience, or trying to impress someone.
I have experienced being in a car accident. It was my brothers birthday, he was turning sixteen and wanted to go to Dave and Busters. My cousins came with us and we had a great time enjoying his party and singing happy birthday to him. After the party my cousins were going to come over to my house. We lived in White Plains at the time and the drive from across the bridge back to White Plains was long. The way we were set up was, my sister was sitting in the second row with my brother and cousin, while I sat in the third row with our other cousin. We were on the highway, no traffic and clear passage, my day was going with the flow of traffic, when we hit a kind of congested part of the road my dad changed lanes, the car behind us did the same following us close behind they sped up too much and rear-ended the car. My dad had to slam on the breaks so he wouldn't hit the car in front of us. Immediately we both pulled over to the side my dad exchanged information with the man, my cousin had gotten serve back pain from the accident. My sister was in pain, my parents had some issues leading them to go to physical therapy after the car accident. My dad revealed that his leg hit the steering wheel and my mom had been yanked forward. The cops came and took our statements, my dad was agitated getting back in because he saw that his phone had been on. He was texting not paying attention, and not wanting anyone to get in front of him while he texted whoever he sped up, and he sped up too much hitting us. The after effects were serious my parents and cousin needed to go to physical therapy after the accident.
To be a safer  driver, I hold myself to strict personal standards by keeping my phone completely out of reach while driving, strictly adhering to speed limits, and staying vigilant regarding surrounding traffic. To help others stay safe on the road, I actively lead by example behaviors. Whether reminding friends to put away their phones while driving, offering to navigate so the driver stays focused, or refusing to ride with anyone driving impaired, I take proactive steps to foster a culture of road safety within my social circle. I value my life and the life of others while driving. So wherever I can help I will. When my friends who don't have license ask me questions I answer them because people need to be educated before they even put their hands on the wheel. I know that sometimes reading it and putting it to action is considered difficult or hard, but education before you car even pulls out the driveway is necessary.