Imagine this scenario, it’s a saturday night, you and your friends are driving down a busy street, coming back from the beach, looking for a diner to get something to eat. You’re in the passenger seat, and you’re best friend is driving, in the lane right over, your other friends are in the car next to you, they roll down the window, your best friend rolls down the window as well, and we all just start cutting up, yelling, and screaming jokes at each other, trying to make each other laugh while going 45 miles an hour. Your best friend doesn’t notice that he’s coming up to a red light while he’s distracted joking with your friends. At the last few seconds, he does, but almost ends up rear-ending the vehicle in front of you. Your heart felt like it dropped all the way to the bottom of your stomach, and that you might end up standing in front of the giant golden gates in the clouds. This was me last summer. And I sincerely pray that something like this or worse doesn’t to me, or anybody else again.
As a teen driving on your own can signify a lot of things. It signifies independence, maturity, and responsibility. Driving on your own can be a very great thing, but as a new driver, especially a young one, it is of the utmost importance to understand the responsibility of driving, and the potential risks and dangers that come with it. Without the proper knowledge and skills, driving can be extremely dangerous.
Car crashes are the leading causes of death in teenagers in the United states. This is due to various factors, but most notably distracted driving. Anything, literally anything that takes your eyes off the road is a distraction. Not just big ones like your phone, or the radio, or applying makeup (Who does that while in a moving vehicle? That’s still crazy to me). Something as simple as picking up a bottle to drink can take precious seconds off the road, and in those crucial moments, disaster can strike.
Effective driving education goes beyond the ways of operating a vehicle. It encapsulates the making of safe driving habits and the development of critical thinking skills needed for navigating unpredictable road conditions. By emphasizing defensive driving techniques and promoting responsible decision-making, education helps teens to become conscientious drivers capable of reducing risks and avoiding potential accidents. Knowing this, there is a heavy emphasis and encouragement for teens to take drivers ed courses, and should continue to do so to ensure the young drivers are informed of all dangers as well as maneuvers to maintain safety on the road. I myself took a drivers education course last summer in order to get a learners permit. I can say from personal experience that the course was worth every minute, and was quite easy to understand.
Being accountable for your own actions on the road is vital. But you must also beware of the actions of others on the road as well. If someone is driving recklessly on the road, you should for one, be aware of their actions and anticipate their moves, and number drive defensively, and prioritize you and anyone else in the vehicle’s safety. As a prime example, my father, who is a commercial truck driver, practices this constantly. He is only in control of his truck while on the road, he has to constantly be on the watch for other drivers, as there have been numerous occasions where other drivers were not being careful. Some would get into the truck's blindspots and my dad would not be able to see them. There are times when drivers would cut off the truck, or merge into the lane in front of it with no signal. Accountability is essential in ensuring that people understand the consequences of their actions on the road/. By emphasizing the importance of following traffic laws, respecting the rights of others, and taking responsibility for your actions, education can help instill a sense of duty and integrity in all drivers both new and experienced.
To conclude, as exhilarating and liberating driving can be, It is important to exercise extreme caution while driving on the road. Young drivers as well as experienced drivers should always be aware of their actions and the actions of others on the road. They should constantly pay attention, and drive defensively to ensure the safety for all. This is how we can make a safer, more responsible road.