Name: Abby Grace Griffith
From: Cordova, Tennessee
Votes: 15
Abby
Griffith
DMV Driver Safety Essay
Taking
the Wheel
We
of today’s world compose a culture in which driving standards are
terrifyingly low. Wear a seatbelt? “That’s optional.” Speed
limits? “Those are suggestions.” Drink and drive? “Everybody
else is doing it; why shouldn’t we?” Somehow, people sail through
Drivers Ed classes, absorbing the information just long enough to
pass the written tests, and then tearing onto our country’s roads
with a reckless vengeance. Distracted or downright dangerous driving
has become the norm, and that, frankly, frightens me. This fear is
certainly a healthy one and has given me an increased awareness of
the dangers of reckless driving all around me. Perhaps if we can show
others the true impact of unsafe driving, we could reduce the number
of deaths resulting from driving every year.
As
I was taking the Drivers Ed classes my parents required – but my
home state of Tennessee does not – I vividly recall coming home to
complain about the graphic footage and testimonies about car
accidents shown each day. “I get that car accidents are bad!” I
grumbled. “So why do I need to see a severed arm lying on the road?
It’s gross!” Now, as I commute and encounter drivers ranging from
stupid to daredevil, I begin to understand. The majority of teens and
young adults seeking their permits or licenses have never been in a
car accident. They are a distant reality to us; we know they exist,
but they seem more like a plane crash or a house fire – cruel
events that happen, but not often enough that we feel threatened.
This illusion of distance lends beginning drivers a feeling of
invincibility. The invincibility leads to carelessness, and
carelessness is an invitation for injury. Drivers Ed classes, with
their chilling documentaries, do their best to strip away the
illusion and make us cautious.
Taking
a Drivers Ed class is merely one of the ways to educate drivers on
road safety. Unfortunately, these classes are only required in 32 of
our 50 states – and even then, some are only required for drivers
between the ages of 14 and 18. If states’ governments can be
motivated to require Drivers Ed classes before taking the written
test, awareness about the dangers of reckless driving would
undoubtedly spread. Furthermore, available DE classes are expensive
enough that many parents would prefer not to pay for them. Seeking
creative ways to lower prices – such as creating free online
classes or finding volunteer instructors – could increase interest.
Finally,
we as individuals should do our best to spread awareness about driver
safety. Bringing awareness does not have to constitute long lectures
on the possibility of death or dismemberment; it can be as simple as
refusing to start the car until everyone has fastened their
seatbelts. You might save a life by gently reminding someone that
texting and driving is illegal in forty-seven states, and for good
reason. Small acts, such as sharing new things you learn about driver
safety, or just driving in general, can constitute big differences.
I
myself have been blessed in that I have never been in a car accident.
In part, that is because people have taken the time to look me in the
eye and be completely honest and open about the dangers of distracted
driving. Teaching is not about lording your superior information over
others; rather, it is about extending a hand and freely giving
information and education to all who need it. Teaching makes us
equals. If we can keep this fact in mind as we attempt to raise
awareness, I believe we will have much greater success in our
efforts. After all, in order to make a real difference, you must
first get people to care.
The way you bring people to caring is showing them that you
care,
because it is a cause worth caring about.
