One of the most prevalent public issues society faces today is teen driver safety. In reality, young drivers are more likely than any other age group to be involved in car accidents, resulting in devastating consequences. As cars become more advanced and distractions more common, the risks of driving are greater. Being an educated responsible driver is not only about knowing how to drive a car, it’s about being aware that you are responsible for not only yourself but the others around you. Education is an important step for helping teen drivers develop this awareness early on, providing them with the necessary habits and mindset to protect everyone on the road.

Drivers Education classes are the first effective way to teach teens about the importance of safe driving and the dangers of distracted driving, speeding, peer pressure, and bad judgement on the road. While drivers ed is an important prerequisite for obtaining a license, it is not taken seriously by all teens. Yet, it is a life saving program. It provides a foundation for the skills essential for defensive driving, identifying potential road hazards, and understanding how emotions and mental states influence behavior when behind the wheel. When taught properly, driver's education can change how young adults perceive driving, showing them how serious of a responsibility it is to be taken seriously, especially when real life scenarios and interactive learning is used.

Distracted driving is one of the most dangerous yet underestimated challenges among drivers today, especially with teen drivers. Whether it is checking a text message, making a phone call, reaching for food, or having a conversation with passengers, these actions may seem harmless at the moment but can lead to life-changing consequences. I have always considered myself an alert and responsible driver, due to the memories of being in a car accident at a young age, but I have realized that there are other things that are considered distractions outside of the main distractions of texting and taking phone calls. A moment that was truly a wake up call for distracted driving was when I was rear-ended in a car accident as a result of distracted driving. I was sitting at a red light, fully stopped, the light had just turned green and there were three other cars in front of me when the car behind me slammed into mine. When we pulled over, the driver admitted they had been looking down at their phone and didn’t notice we hadn’t moved yet until it was too late. Thankfully, I was not seriously hurt, but the emotional and financial stress that followed could have been avoided completely, if it weren’t for the distraction of the driver's phone. That moment truly scared me, forced me to take a serious look at my own habits behind the wheel, and how they may affect others around me. It left a mark, literally and figuratively, and showed me how dangerous even a few seconds of distraction can be, and how that can change someone’s life forever.

Distracted driving does not always look like someone glued to their phone screen. It can be subtle, even seemingly innocent, but that obliviousness is just as dangerous. My personal experience of distracted driving has taught me that I need to be proactive and intentional about how I drive. Every time I get behind the wheel, I remind myself that my safety and the safety of others is in my hands, and no meal or conversation is worth that risk.
As teens, we are under a lot of pressure, socially, academically, and emotionally. This weight of pressure we carry follows us everywhere, even in the car. Whether it's rushing to school, stressing about a test, the pressure to fit into social norms, or worrying about friendship drama, these stressors can cloud judgement. In my high school we had yearly all school assemblies to bring awareness to the dangers of reckless driving, where our school used real examples of a student who was in a tragic accident near our campus. I believe all schools should do this or a variation of this to update teen drivers on driver safety. Parents can also play a crucial role in keeping teens educated on the proper driving practices. They can reinforce what teens have learned in drivers ed by setting clear expectations and practicing safe driving in front of them. Communities are able to contribute to the enforcement of safe driving learned in drivers ed through public awareness campaigns and or partnering with local and state enforcement to further educate teen drivers without instilling fear or passing judgement. Teens themselves can take ownership and promote safe driving by holding their peers accountable, speaking up in unsafe situations, and creating an environment where they value safety over convenience.

Every teen has a right to feel safe behind the wheel, and that safety begins by being taught what safety truly means. Yes, we have to pass tests and obey the laws, but that is not all that it’s about; it’s about knowing that driving is a given privilege and not appreciating that comes with real world consequences. Driver’s education provides us with the knowledge, but what really matters is how we apply it to our everyday actions that makes a difference. As I continue to mature and take on more responsibilities, I carry this mindset with me on how safe driving isn’t just a one time thing to get a license but something you practice everyday.