Our
lives are filled with tasks. We have homework, sports, hobbies, and
friends. We live fast and yes we drive fast. Drivers ed is
intended to make us stop and think about what we do and the
consequences. For my generation, consequences are far off, vague and
may never happen. We ask, “why
worry about tomorrow when we have today”?
The greatest danger for my generation is social media and the need
to stay connected. We feel obligated to know what’s
happening at every moment AND to respond in real time. We worry that
we will miss something if we don’t check
Twitter, instagram, Facebook, GroupMe, and text. We treat our cars
like our personal room rather than the serious activity that it is.
Hands free laws are an effort but they still allow us to be
distracted. A brave step would be to use your phone as a key. It
would have to be inserted into a portal to start the car. Car
sensors are another brave attempt to stop accidents but driver
responsibility is the real issue. We need SMART DRIVERS and SMART
CARS. Drivers ed needs a practical component that allows
practice with experienced professionals- affordable and accessible.
As a young person, my life depends on it and so does yours.