As teenagers, we often feel invincible. We tend to believe that nothing bad will happen to us, and that our actions will not have serious consequences. Unfortunately, it sometimes takes a tragic moment or a close call to make us realize just how wrong that thinking can be. In this essay, I will explore several ways we can create a safer driving environment for teens. I speak from experience—I have witnessed the outcomes of poor decisions behind the wheel, and they do not always lead to a happy ending. That is why it is so important to take teen driver safety seriously before it is too late.
Teen driver safety is important not only to the healthcare environment and parents. It impacts everyone in this modern day. One wrong move at the wheel, one wrong turn, being late to work or school can have lifelong effects. Because this affects everyone in the world, it’s important to address that there are methods out there trying to prevent the outcome of death. Death by a car accident is high in the US. While I was in high school, I took classes and was surrounded by teachers who were involved with the Drivers Ed program. Majority of them really took interest in their students and of their safety. Majority of the course is preparing us for the unexpected and helping us to prevent any bad situations from happening.
Some of the biggest challenges teen face are peer pressure, thinking they can accomplish anything on a whim, distractions, and thinking they are NASCAR drivers. Drivers were once kids. All kids have someone they look up to. Usually that is a parent or a close loved one. We do not realize how much of an impact we play on others until its usually to late. Anytime I get into a car, you can tell what kind of driver they are based upon the interior or the way they grip the steering wheel. Everyone of us thinks its cool to go fast until something bad happens. We usually stop speeding for a few weeks, but go right back into old habits. The best way for us to prevent any of these problems, is to start them at a young age in their homes. To be good examples and pretend someone is always watching.
During the last two years, I had the privilege to go on a religious mission. I served in a different state then where I grew up. A lot of the driving was similar, but there were also major differences. One way that our church helped us, they partnered with a company and used a device to monitor when we drove. Anytime we drove over the speed limit, we would get a message telling us to check our speed. Anytime we did not have our seat belts on, we would get a notification to put it on. We also got notifications if we took a strong turn or hit an object in the road. We called these things coaches. For the driver with the lowest coaches in our group would get a prize. I am not saying that a device giving us scores to earn prizes is the fix, but it kept us safe.
Schools and communities have the chance to promote a safer environment for teen drivers. Schools have the chance to hold events to help teens stay safe. They also have the opportunity to set high standards for their students within the classroom. The community can also set an example and come together with local schools and help hold events to hold safer driving standards. As for teens, we need them to trust their local peers and teachers. Teens can also do their part and make sure they are following local laws, not driving distractedly, wearing a seatbelt and following the speed limit.
Overall, the influence we have on teens—especially when it comes to driving safety—is incredibly important. However, it is just as crucial to recognize that teens themselves play a powerful role in shaping a safer driving culture. By creating and promoting effective strategies to prevent accidents among young drivers, we can make a real difference. But these strategies only work if teens are willing to take them seriously and apply them in their daily lives. That means they need to start making better decisions behind the wheel. They also need us to create an environment for them full of trust and respect. They will need trusted peers and leaders in their lives to set an example and encourage good driving habits.