Most teens dream of the freedom that comes with getting behind the wheel of their dream car and driving away without a care in the world. However, Many do not stop to think of the great responsibility they take when getting behind the wheel of a car. Statistics show that every 2 out of 3 teenagers are killed in crashes each year, according to iihs.org. That being said, every teen who gets behind the wheel must understand the responsibility that falls upon their shoulders the moment they get their license; from fully understanding the rules and regulations of driving to understanding that if a horrific accident were to happen, it would not just be their family having to deal with the devastation and the guilt of felling that there was something that they could have done like not sending them out on that last minuit run. Driving a vehicle requires one to be focused on the task at hand and fully aware of the situations transpiring around them, such as thinking ahead about what the drivers around you may choose to do. To lower the possibility of an accident, many U.S. states require all teens to take some sort of driver's education to get their license, ensuring that these students who will soon be driving have a clear and deep understanding of the road and how it works. Driver's education classes are designed to help students navigate the road in a safe manner. Students should always take these classes seriously, take to heart the information that is obtained through the course, to have the best chances of being prepared while on the road.
However, no matter how much you prepare and how many times you tell your parents you will not get distracted, the temptation is always there. From the ringing of your phone seeing your friends calling you to the buzzing of a new Snapchat story, or even maybe looking away for a split second to change the song, that is when the unthinkable happens. On September 29th, 2023, my small town was hit with the unthinkable as four young high school students were involved in a fiery, fatal high-speed crash, with only the driver making it out alive on their way to the football game that Friday night. One of the victims was a senior and had his whole college life planned in front of him. The other two were my age at the time, sophomores. No one ever expects such a horrific accident to happen to them or to their loved ones or community, especially on such an average southern Friday night. But the driver, being a teen himself, was under the peer pressure of his friends and wanting to look cool in front of them, ended up exceeding a hundred miles per hour in a forty-five, where he lost control, flipped the car and hit a tree sadly losing three of his best friends and being charged with their death. Everything was lost in a second for that driver and those families, and the community as a whole.
The use of technology behind the wheel has also contributed to all drivers dividing their attention between the operation of a vehicle and enjoying the technology we have. As drivers, we must learn to put our phones away while driving. Unfortunately, many young drivers are copying the actions of their parents or other drivers: texting at red lights and while driving down the road, holding the phone while talking to someone and being engrossed in the conversation, or even responding to social media requests and posting while operating a vehicle. I know firsthand how hard it is to ignore the ding of social media, but as a driver, it is my responsibility to ignore technology and focus on driving safely between destinations.
In all honesty, school,s and parents should educate their young drivers more on the dangers and risks that come with peer pressure, as well as unsafe driving practices. Having open and honest conversations with experienced, adult drivers, being transparent with your parents, learning to turn off the technology, and putting concentration back on the road are ways for teen drivers to accept the challenge of navigating highways and byways as safely as they can. Society should not look down upon young drivers, but support them by understanding and being a good example for future drivers. Teens are naturally competitive and feel like they have something to prove, even behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. When society looks down on young drivers, it gives them the mindset that they have something to prove and soar past the expectations that the older drivers have set in place, which can lead good drivers down the road of unsafe and distracted driving. Being a responsible driver and respecting the rules of the road, as presented in driver’s education classes, can help teen drivers remain safe behind the wheel of a car.