Drive like your life depends on it.

           One thing that always stuck with me when learning to drive was being told to be a defensive driver. I didn’t realize how important that statement was until I experienced the drivers in Milwaukee. When driving in Milwaukee, you better drive like your team is up by two in Game 7 of the NBA Championship with 10 seconds left with ultimate defense where you can’t afford a foul. Driver education and just common sense would significantly reduce the number of accidents and deaths anywhere.

           In Milwaukee, it’s pretty common to see stolen cars racing down the street. These cars have no plates whatsoever, run lights, and just make a mess. I think Wisconsin is lax about drivers following driving rules, especially in Milwaukee. If this was happening in the suburbs, police would catch everyone. It’s as if the city of Milwaukee doesn’t care anymore. There may be just one police chase for every ten cars stolen. Also, I feel it is important for schools to talk with students about safe driving. Sure, we get the essential real-world lessons like practicing safe sex or don’t do drugs. However, I don’t remember ever getting a lecture about safe driving. It’s as if the schools assume students will learn safe driving in Driver’s Education. This would be true if more people knew about Driver’s Education. Driver’s Education is not advertised as much as it should be. I only knew about Driver’s Education because my parents informed me about it. I probably wouldn’t have known about it if it were not for them. If schools were able to educate people on driver safety or driver education as part of a school-wide curriculum people wouldn’t drive so recklessly. This would have a significant impact, especially in my community. This would make my community safer. Young people would be able to go out and play, drive around, and have fun with friends without worrying about reckless driving.

As previously mentioned, the easiest way to promote driver safety is in schools. Driver’s Education would fix the root cause of the problem. Also, there are other solutions to the problem of driver safety. Special policing for stolen cars is another solution. Special policing could consist of placing more police officers in known stolen car areas and reckless driving car hotspots. The city could also help by putting up more stop signs and speed bumps, forcing people to slow down. There also needs to be stricter laws on insurance and license plates. The last three solutions are only trimming the problem. The problem is that kids see people stealing cars and driving recklessly and think it’s cool. Schools and parents also play a part in encouraging safe driving in their children. If we start educating kids, we will see a significant impact on the number of car accidents and injury or death caused by those accidents.

  Almost every day, we see a stolen car racing down our street. It’s a pretty common occurrence in the city of Milwaukee. In Milwaukee, a group of teens calls themselves “The Kia Boys.” These teens go around and steal Kia cars for fun. This has led to a surge in stolen cars across Milwaukee. New drivers and parents from Milwaukee often go to the suburbs to learn how to drive. Just recently, I saw an abandoned stolen car on a school playground. Also, my mom was not able to leave home to go to work because an abandoned stolen car was in the middle of the alleyway. I don’t think these thieves realize how much damage they are causing our community. They could be preventing someone from going to work or buying groceries. And for what, because you think it’s cool and stealing cars will make you popular?

Driving a car gives you an immense sense of freedom. But with that freedom comes responsibility. My mom says that driving a car is like having a loaded gun. First off, the most important safety measure is to wear my seatbelt. Additionally, when I’m driving, I have to make more of an effort to stay at or below the speed limit. I’m so used to seeing people speed around me and trying to keep up with the traffic flow that I look like a maniac when I drive in the suburbs. Also, I must remember to turn my lights on when it gets dark. The car that I drive is not automatic like newer cars. So, I have to make a conscious effort to turn them on at dusk.

Driving is a fantastic experience, but not everyone is suited for it. The more people are taught about the dangers of driving and how to be safer, we can prevent many tragedies.