It was Father’s Day 2016, and the smell of my grandpa's grill carried through there. Although there was something different mixed with this scent. Finally, my family caved into my theory that something else was up, and we went to investigate. That’s when we saw a brand new red Mercedes up a telephone pole. The neighbors are gossiping, and we come to find out that a sixteen-year-old old not even a week with her license, was speeding and lost control. Somehow, she survived. It wasn’t a thought of how sad this scenario was, but instead of how stupid the child’s actions were.
This is not an uncommon situation among most teenagers. As one of them, we love testing limits, and that can happen with the first taste of freedom we get… a car. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Teens are more likely than older drivers to underestimate or not be able to recognize dangerous situations. Teens are also more likely than adults to make critical errors that can lead to serious crashes.” Why is this the case? I believe it is not due to a lack of education, but due to the basis on which brains function.
Do you remember when you were a kid and you got your license? Depending on your age and demographics, many things have changed since then. It is said that teenagers are currently more depressed and anxious than people who were in a psych ward about 100 years ago. This is all due to the pressures, social media, and peer influence that now impede teenagers' lives. All of these issues factor into the thoughts that constantly bother a new driver. There are so many new drivers not wanting to get a driver's license because they live in fear. Driving is not something you can do in fear; otherwise, lives will be harmed.
A couple of months ago, I was driving and went on my phone in front of my high school. I went up on the curb and scared myself. I was SO fortunate that this did not result in serious injury. However, I was incredibly, utterly, entirely STUPID. I acknowledge that the mistakes I made could have caused harm to many people. Even though I know this, as a teenager, it isn’t uncommon for me to go on my phone when I drive. This isn’t because teenagers are simply addicts, but because they are reliant. The reason I went on my phone was that I did not know where I was going. I let the anxiety take over my thoughts, broke the law, and risked my life. Though my mistake had good reason, it had nonetheless been any different from the mistake the girl made on Father's Day earlier in my story. Teenagers do not think through their actions, and as a result, there are accidents that happen.
There is no solution. This sounds extreme, but there is no end-all be-all. Teenagers will be stupid and break every rule they are given; however, education can still get through and aid in smarter decisions. One vivid memory I have from my driver's education class is a video on drunk driving that was meant to scare us into never drunk driving. This completely worked on me. Although I fully believe that fear should not be the motivation behind any action, I do believe this can be a great way can educate students. In driver's education classes, real people who have been affected by bad driving decisions should be brought into the class or play in a video. Sometimes, having something tangible and in a kid's face knocks sense into them. This would aid in the problem, but it would not solve the problem.
The best way to make sure teenagers don’t make big mistakes in cars is to make sure they are punished for the mistakes they make. I have countless friend who go 100 on the backroads and the cops see them. This is similar to underage drinking, drugs, and things that young people should not be allowed to do; they need an adult to limit their freedom. My mother would never let me touch my keys again if I even got into a bumper tap. This keeps me disciplined and safe… even though I still go on my phone sometimes. (shhh don’t tell!)
In conclusion, teenage driving needs to be monitored because these children are the future. Think about it, who do you want driving you to the doctor someday? Also, every child’s life matters; they could cure a disease, save someone’s life, or even be someone’s life. So I ask of you, please teach the future the right ways, even if that means a little tough love is given.