Pass
Me the Phone


When
we get our derivers licenses, it is a right of passage into
adulthood. Having a car makes you appear more mature, and many people
flock to you for rides, and hangouts. However, the inexperience and
cockiness often found in young drivers is one major issue. There is a
lack of practice, and understanding of the roads, and this mixed with
technology really creates issues. Besides the normal driver’s
education classes, driving safety should be taught in schools. Just
because someone doesn’t have a car, there are plenty of different
opportunities for them to be in a car with someone who is driving
irresponsibility. One way to reduce the number of deaths while
driving, is to teach especially teens, the importance of driving free
of distraction. Learning ways to respond to the driver when someone
is being irresponsible can be a way to save lives. If schools can
teach everyone about safe driving and methods to reduce unsafe
driving, such as ways to ask a friend to put their phone down, or how
to personally reduce distractions, this will create a safer
environment for these unexperienced teenage drivers.


Personally,
I have been in many situations where friends or family are on their
phones while driving. They are texting, scrolling through social
media, taking selfies, changing the music, and so much more. I feel
better knowing I can ask in different ways to get them off their
phone. For example, I can say “Here, I can change the music.” Or
“I’ll help you with the directions.” It doesn’t need to be
some big statement to help get friends and family off their phone. It
can be intimidating for some people to ask that, but these small
phrases can prevent a car accident, and can even prevent death. It
may seem fun at the time, but it only takes one second for there to
be a horrible accident. I feel that teenagers need to not feel like
they are being lame, or not fun because they are asking someone to
put their phone down. If schools can teach this to students
especially in high school, this could prevent lots of accidents and
deaths among young drivers.

When
I am driving, I am not on my phone. I am focused, and when friends
are in the car, they can be in control of the music. Or the radio. Or
the directions. There will never be a time that I must be on my phone
in the car, so I’m not on it. I understand the consequences of
distracted driving, but many don’t. Even just a few small lessons
sprinkled throughout certain high school classes could prevent major
accidents and save lives. The key is prepping everyone with the right
knowledge to make better choices at the wheel.