Name: Hanna M Rogers
From: Freeport, Pennsylvania
Votes: 0
As
a child we all couldn’t wait for the day we become a grown up with
the dream of getting our driver’s license, graduating, moving out,
and getting married. No one ever dreams of a life short lived by
reckless driving, unfortunately it is something that happens daily in
the world.
As
we reach our teenage years and that beloved permit test approaches
there is one thing we all must remember. A driver’s license is more
than a piece of plastic, it’s the responsibility of a driver to not
only be cautious and protect themselves, but also other drivers on
the road. Being educated and prepared before hopping in the car for
your first date with the road is important.
Did
you know that traffic accidents are ranked 10th
in the world and 17th
in the US for causes of death last year? That ranking is higher than
most deaths related to cancer, STD/STI deaths, and violence related
deaths. We all can take steps to be safer on the road and lower that
ranking. In 2015, 391,000 injuries were reported as a result of
distracted driving and of those 3,500 resulted in death. Just last
year the number of automobile accident deaths rose to 35,000.
According to the Department of Motor Vehicles it is believed that
nine people in the United States find their demise as a result of a
traffic accident caused by distracted driving. So, what can we do to
lower this number? The answer is simple. Most drivers that are
distracted while driving are either distracted by their cellphones or
under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Putting cellphones away or
on driving mode will help to minimize the urge to check text or call
notifications while operating your vehicle. Having a designated
driver determined or a ride scheduled before going out can help
eliminate the need to drive under the influence.
We’ve
all gone through the denial process – it’s fine, it’s just this
once, nothing is going to happen to me – however we need to take
the time to stop and think about if what you’re doing is worth the
possible end result. A real-life example is a man I know went out
and got a little too tipsy with some friends. He thought he would be
fine to drive home, regardless of the fact he knew he shouldn’t be
driving. Luckily no one was injured or killed, however he did get
his license suspended for driving under the influence. Not even a
week later his mother was in a car accident with a drunk driver that
left her in the emergency room. We all think it will be okay if we
do it, even just one time, but one time is all it takes for a
disaster.
The
bottom line is we need to realize that the vehicles we are operating
are killing machines. I’m not saying anyone should be afraid to go
out and live the lifelong dream of receiving a driver’s license,
but we as a society need to make it more known that it’s more than
just a piece of plastic. The cellphone needs to be put away while
driving. If you want to have a few drinks be ready to call a friend
or an uber to take you home. Be safe on the road and pay attention
to your surroundings. Having the ability to operate a motor vehicle
is a privilege, not a right.
