Strive to Drive

Strive to Drive

As a high school student who, like many of my peers, are in the process of or have received their licenses it is especially important that we learn road safety early. It is really common for teenagers now to be reckless when driving, especially when driving with their friends. This is the very reason car insurance for teenage boys is significantly higher than any other car insurance! I share this not only as fact, but from my personal experience of being in an accident with my friends while driving home from school one day during my junior year of high school. It needs to be emphasized to people how important being aware of their surroundings, their mood, weather, etc. can affect their driving, as well as everybody else’s on the road. So many things come into play when driving and it is too often that people are injured or worse because of mistakes on the road.

Following road rules and practicing defensive and responsibly will help reduce the number of deaths and accidents that could happen. The littlest actions on the road can make all the difference! Things like taking another look before turning, noticing “No Turn on Red” signs and being mindful of pedestrians can prevent so many accidents! However, I strongly believe there has not been enough emphasis on the responsibility that pedestrians, passengers, etc. hold. It is not only the job of drivers to be wary, but when people cross the street where there are no crosswalks or a passenger in the car distracts the driver for even a second, the consequences could be catastrophic. Imagine you are driving down a road at 45 mph and you’re about to pass a green light, but all of a sudden, a pedestrian runs out to cross the street, thinking they can make it and despite the “No Walking” sign flashing. You try to slow down as much as you can and pray that you don’t hit them and that the car behind you slows down too… You’re able to stop but unfortunately, you tap the pedestrian and are taken to court. Who’s fault is it? Of course, you get the blame because you are the driver and YOU were supposed to see the pedestrian and stop. All of this blame on you even though the pedestrian was crossing when they weren’t supposed to.

People need to be educated and reminded about their actions and mindfulness as drivers, pedestrians, passengers, and any other person on the road! Driver education, aka Driver’s Ed, is often taught in high school, which is understandable because driving comes with a lot of responsibility and understanding, but topics like pedestrian safety can be implemented at ages as young as kindergarten and it is in the interest of future generations’ safety that they learn these things sooner rather than later. It would also be really helpful if the companies that teach young drivers about the road through first-hand experience behind the wheel make sure that they are emphasizing safe driving and responsibility. By encouraging and implementing pedestrian and passenger education at young ages, these ideas will transcend throughout their lives and will hopefully lead to a much longer and safer future for everyone!