Driving is a right not a priviledge

Safe drive now, ask questions later.

Driving is a privilege not a right. Every fifteen year old knows they must complete a series of tests as well as online courses to earn their drivers license. When uneducated, people are more likely to break laws, drive recklessly, and get behind the wheel without safety considerations. Joshua’s Law requirements are boring and drawn out. It’s becoming more and more popular to pay off other people to take the course for you. But in reality, it’s the boring and drawn out courses that actually teach drives to be safer. I was once fifteen too, I know what it’s like to go through the courses. I also know what it’s like to drive recklessly and have to face the consequences. I’ve been pulled over more times than I’d like to say, but through the court order driving courses and the heavy consequences, I’ve learned to take other people into consideration when I’m on the road.

When I was sixteen years old I rearended a car going about 40mph. The front end of my car became engulfed by the back end of their car, pushing them into several cars in front of them. Their spare tire became trapped under my driver side tire and my door was so crushed that I couldn’t escape my car. All my softball gear and school supplies came rushing from the back seat and crashing into my dash, my head, and the back of my front seats. The airbag took my glasses clean off and the smoke inhalation caused me to have a severe asthma attack. Everyone in the car accident was ok and I was the only person to go to the hospital. Once a driver goes through that kind of experience their whole perspective changes. I was lucky to survive and after that accident I learned to always keep a keen eye on the road. It sucks that a big event like this was what it took for me to learn to drive safely and I was extremely lucky no one was seriously injured. Young drivers don’t need to go through this kind of experience to learn the same lesson. Not all lessons are going to be as forgiving as mine. I ended up with a ticket for following too closely and a mighty big lawsuit from the couple I initially hit. I can remember that day like it was yesterday and that’s what keeps me driving safe and keeping my eyes on the road.

Unfortunately before this accident occurred I was pulled over doubling the speed limit in a 55mph zone. I was young and I was reckless. There were countless ways that I could’ve ended someone’s life that day. But I’m extremely grateful I got pulled over when I did. I ended up on probation for 9 months and had to attend many court ordered driving courses. I feel many kids can benefit from these driving courses though they aren’t mandated to obtain your license. I believe putting things into perspective for drivers is an important step in preventing driving related deaths. These courses were a series of very graphic videos explaining multiple different scenarios when people lives were taken away. Whereas it was very sad, it put everything into perspective for me. Educating people on the extreme downsides of driving is the most key part in stopping driving related deaths across the world. Distracted driving is one of the biggest causes of driving related deaths among teenagers and young adults. Instilling the principle of hands-off driving in young adults is going to be the most vital step cutting down on driving related deaths.

Safe driving is not only to protect you but also to protect other drivers on the road. Moves that you make effect everyone on the road. No one can ensure that the other drivers are going to take you into consideration but two wrongs don’t make a right. One safe driver is better than no safe drivers. When you get into the “earn your privilege to drive” mentality and out of your “this is my born right” you become a lot safer of a driver. Being a safe driver is also following laws that are set in place to keep you safe. Wearing your seatbelt might seem like a hassle, but that’s what’s going to keep you from flying through the windshield in case of an accident. Getting arrested because you had one too many to drink is there to keep you from putting not only yourself at risk, but also other cars and people you could hit from impaired driving. The speed limits are there for a reason. Yes, it’s fun to drive really fast with your windows down and the wind blowing, but its also one of the most unsafe and reckless things you could do while driving. Safe driving starts with following the laws. This is why driving education is so important, to make you aware of the law yet also aware of the consequences.