Buckle Up

Turning 16 never seemed better… or so I thought. The minute I turned 16 I was excited because I would officially be able to buckle up and drive. The thought of eventually getting my license and a car was thrilling. At this age I began to drive in my neighborhood with my parents by my side. As we were driving, my father constantly made remarks about everything I was doing wrong. He would remind me of all the little details that needed to be acknowledged as it would ensure my safety. At first I chuckled and thought it was silly but the first time I drove alone changed the “excitement.”

Driving was a necessity as I had a job and I had to attend school. With my parents working, it would have been difficult for them to drive me around. This goes for many who need to drive at a young age. Before obtaining my drivers license, I attended a few driving classes. They helped me understand the precautious one needs to take when driving in a simple neighborhood opposed to a freeway. They made me aware of how important it is for one to be attentive towards pedestrians, signs, lights, other drivers, lanes, and within your own vehicle. All of those elements when driving are there to help guide a driver and keep one safe. It is important to follow guidelines as they have been implemented for a reason. Speeding, changing lines recklessly, driving under the influence, and even being on your phone has caused unfortunate accidents. When looking at the amount of deaths within a year due to something as simple like driving, you question how driving has such a huge impact on the world. Hearing how a loved one has died or someone you knew due to drunk driving, falling asleep on the wheel, or any other accident has to be life-changing. This forces a person to be cautious. It makes a person change their driving habits for good. It is important to avoid any bad habits or get rid of them to save lives. Driving education can reduce the number by molding safe and attentive drivers.

I have been fortunate enough to not experience a dire accident. A car recently rear ended my car and made me afraid to drive and there have been different situations in which an accident could have occurred. Getting out of my car was terrifying but making sure I was okay was far more important than my car. Your heart sinks when almost experiencing such a rush. It was a terrible feeling and only made me more attentive. I made sure to drive cautiously after that incident as I drove towards my final destination. Those little moments make one aware of terrible habits a driver may have or one can avoid. After this moment, each time I reverse I constantly make sure to check my surroundings, maybe even prolong too much.

My own family has certain bad habits and when I was taking my driving class my father asked me for clarification on certain positions. My father made me realize the importance of speeding, time, and lights along with other little things that are not good when driving. Today, I am thankful for all of the comments, which I felt he exaggerated back then, he made when I first began to drive. In this case, it was so important for me to not develop bad habits because I am so young. As an adult, it is more difficult to stop doing something you have been doing since your teen years. As a young person, it is not ideal to be in a car accident or cause one. Noting irresponsible habits to relatives or admitting one does it themselves, can help lower the deaths.

Driving education and advertisement about cautious driving is so important. It helps people understand the severe consequences of their driving habits and actions that embark the world. A simple task like driving when done safely can save thousands of lives on a daily basis. It should not be taken lightly. Being able to drive is a privilege, getting a license is not a process that needs to be rushed and it is important driving requirements are taken seriously. This topic should be stressed to drivers in order to lower the casualties. This does not apply to only teen drivers as they may be seen as young and reckless but to drivers who choose to drive thoughtless regardless of the knowledge they have of the guidelines on the road.