What
If It Was You?

By:
Sarah Hafley



My
junior year in high school I had the privilege to participate in the
Every 15 Minutes program. The
Every 15 Minutes program is a two-day program focusing on high school
juniors and seniors, which challenges them to think about drinking,
driving, personal safety, the responsibility of making mature
decisions and the impact their decisions have on family, friends,
their community, and many others. I can confidently say that it was a
life changing experience. Safe and uninfluenced driving has always
been extremely important to me. Sadly, I have lost two friends to
motor vehicle accidents and two more of them were greatly injured; in
fact, two out of the four were hit and runs. 

If
driving education was implemented in teens, young adults, adults, and
elders I think the number of deaths as a result of driving would
reduce tremendously. Currently, driving education is only taught to
teens in high school for only one year, and also to people that have
driving offenses. Even the people that have driving offenses only
have to go to a one day class. A first step that should be taken is
to require every driver to take at least one driving class or course
once a year. Driving and safety technology is constantly changing,
especially nowadays. There is nothing wrong with a refresher on old
knowledge, and I think having these annual lessons can keep all
drivers up to date and limit the number of accidents and
casualties.  

The
most irresponsible action I see everyday is people on their phones
while behind the wheel. One way I prevent this in my personal life is
making sure I have my volume and notifications off while I am
driving. Also, before I start driving I make sure I have all of my
music queued up ready to play and I make sure my GPS is perfectly in
place and started.These are some easy and simple steps you can take
as well to be a safer driver. In addition, while I am a passenger in
another’s car, and they need to go on their phone, I go on it for
them and help so that they can focus on driving.

In
conclusion, there are 30,000+ casualties in the United States
annually due to vehicular accidents and we need to do everything in
our power to reduce the lives lost. What if it was your child? Your
parents? Grandparents? Sibling? What if it was you?