Driving
is the first taste of freedom to a sixteen year old. Windows down,
dancing in the car, screaming to the music that is blasting through
the speakers. Although driving can feel like freedom, a major
collision can turn an individual prisoner in their own body with
devastating injuries or even resulting in death. Oblivious and naïve,
teenagers have a tendency to overlook the dangers in certain
situations because they are not aware of the potential consequences
of their actions.
It
is important for drivers ed to reduce to number of deaths as a
result of driving because it has become the leading cause of youth
deaths in the United States. According to Association for Safe
International Road Travel (ASIRT), 1.25 million Americans die on the
roads each year, which averages out to be around 3,287 deaths every
day. Due to reckless driving, friends and family members are put in
danger each time they get behind the wheel. Technology in modern
society has become such an influential part of life, people are
risking their lives and the lives of others to check something as
miniscule as a text message. Thankfully, I have not been in a car
accident but I have witnessed a car crash because the woman was not
paying attention to the road. Not only did this crash affect her, it
also affected the innocent driver and passengers in the car she had
crashed into. Distracted driving comes with many negative
consequences in which many cases ultimately result in an extreme
injury or death.

Although
driving can be dangerous, there are several ways drivers ed can
incorporate safe driving habits in order to reduce the number of
fatalities related to driving. Requiring a defensive driving course
is one way to ensure that not only teens are careful about their own
driving, but also become mindful of other drivers as well. Some steps
individuals can take to be a safer driver are to silence cell phones,
limit any distractions, and stay within the given speed limits. It is
also important to not drive while overwhelmed with any type of
negative emotions because it will impair judgment and create
distractions. Driving is extremely dangerous when people are
distracted and reckless behind the wheel. Therefore, it is important
to emphasize and teach how to become a safer driver to teens in
drivers ed in order to reduce the number of casualties in the
United States.