When it comes to thinking of a teenager first getting their license everyone thinks only about the negatives of such a wonderful goal to reach in life. What if there was a way that us, as a community provided knowledge and experience to these drivers to ensure that they are the best prepared they can possible be. With the rapid evolution of technology, there seems to be a large margin between safety and distractions. Especially for new teen drivers. Everyone knows that as a teenager, you will always find a way to make a shortcut or manipulate something for their convenience. This can lead to catastrophic incidents particularly when they are behind the wheel.
Every year, there are thousands of lives lost due to distracted drivers, while most reports state that those drivers are typically younger. With car crashes being one of the highest rates for teenage deaths. This is a very important subject for everyone as this is a tragedy that no parent or anyone in general wants to hear about someone they knew. Although technology is advancing, this can make the road for teens both safer and more dangerous. Education for teenagers is detrimental for their growth as their knowledge expands over the years. With drivers' education classes, the teens can learn the fundamentals of driving while also learning the laws and hear about stories that can steer them away from distractions. Not only does these classes provide one on one driving with a skilled driver, but it also makes a new driver as prepared as possible for anything they might witness while behind the wheel.
When it comes to challenges for teen drivers, the list can go on forever. Some of the main distractions are social media, lack of experience and taking driving advice from friends their age. With apps like TikTok and Instagram, has scientifically proved it shows that our attention spans have decreased due to shorter video times. It has almost become an addiction for some teens and is very dangerous for when they are driving and are on their phone either watching these videos or texting others collision with a large freight train. As he was helicoptered to a hospital in Chicago, he was in a coma for three days. During that time, we found out that he had been looking at a text message before the accident had happened, I also pondered on the thought that I might never speak to my brother or if he would ever be the same. Spending two weeks in the hospital watching my brother try to recover from an incident that many do not come out of made me not only never take a moment for granted, but to always put full focus on the road when I am behind the wheel.
In my eyes I think that there needs to be more ways in making teen drivers more prepared on the road when they get a driver's license. It all starts within the community and schools to establish a curriculum or some sort of knowledge for all teens. From personal experience, growing up in a low-income area creates a great divide in peoples wants and needs. Most people say that drivers' education school is a privilege due to the high prices for the just an online class or a couple weeks of classes. Everyone understands that it is a business at the end of the day, but why is classes that provide teenagers more experience on the road such as privilege. All schools should make drivers education a mandatory class to graduate high school. Whether it's one class or multiple classes it needs to be a benchmark for every student to take before they receive their driver's license. Parents can also download apps such as life360 and apps from insurance companies to monitor how their children to ensure that they are staying off their phones and driving the speed limit. For most of the insurance company apps it even encourages proper driving by lowering cost on car insurance.
In the end of the day, the community can only do so much, and it then comes down to the teenagers using the knowledge they have learned and applying the skills to their daily lives. Through support systems, communities and schooling we can bring more awareness to this issue and help make drivers more prepared for when they first get behind the wheel. By putting your phones away, staying away from driving with reckless friends, and obeying all laws we can make the world a safer place for generations in the future.