A Serious Responsibility

Going to school. Sporting events. Eating dinner out. Attending a party. These normal American activities all have one thing in common: most of the time, they require driving a car to complete. This means that every time an individual has anywhere to go, a vehicle will most likely be involved as transportation. This is a significant amount of time that should not be overlooked. A pressing question reminds us to pay attention to those times in the car: are we helping or hurting others or ourselves to live out the time we have been given by driving safely? 

Driving is the most prevalent form of transportation in America. One can see this by observing the major highways, small backroads, and amounts of automobiles found in a city. It is only fitting that along with the responsibility of affordable, smooth transportation come education on how to harness this privilege. I believe those who do not receive adequate education regarding driving do not realize the full consequences of their actions. One may think that they are the most dangerous to themselves but in reality, their main threat is pointed toward others. The sobering truth remains; it takes a single individual to cause many more both physical and emotional harm. Adequate driver education with an emphasis on the dangers of driving can help America’s citizens, notably its youth, to understand and take seriously the activity of driving. If people can realize the consequences of actions made rashly or without proper instruction, they will naturally make more informed and careful decisions, resulting in fewer deaths due to driving overall.

It was a Sunday during Christmas time, and I was about 10 years old. My friends and I were giddy with excitement about being angels in the upcoming Christmas pageant.  As we prepared and talked with each other, one of the girls went into another room and burst into tears. As one of the adult leaders went to comfort her, I asked someone what was wrong with her. I learned that her cousin had died the previous night as a result of being crashed into by a drunk driver. I watched firsthand the pain my friend and her family felt because of a driving-induced accident resulting in a grievous cost. The most concerning fact about this scenario is the fact that it was absolutely preventable. The bad choices of the offensive driver concerning alcohol led him to not only put himself in detainment, but also end the life of a young man who had so many more days to live. This somber story is a reminder to me of the consequences of driving irresponsibly. 

Although drunk driving is a serious contributor to car-related crashes and deaths, it is certainly not the only one. Lack of driver education and hand-held technology have proven to be just as deadly. Drivers who think they know the basics, such as stop signs and passing zones, may be caught unawares with a complicated intersection they are unsure about. Overconfidence can quickly become an issue connected to lack of education. It is all too easy for a driver without proper education to be influenced, whether by friends, substance abuse, or their own ego, to drive without the proper instruction. A more recent development, modern technology has not helped to flatten the curve of driving-induced deaths. The mindset of instant gratification, paired with the distracting apps and notifications found on a smartphone, can be disastrous. Our culture’s ideas of needing to respond right now, promotes distracted driving and ultimately in some cases, unnecessary death.

Since I am underage and do not plan to partake in alcohol consumption, as well as a fully licensed driver, the main safety precaution that applies to me regards modern technology. I can say through experience I have been tempted to respond to the familiar ding of somebody’s text while driving, but I have made a conscious effort to wait to interact. I have felt the pressure, but I realize the consequences. Some methods that have helped me with this potentially deadly temptation is silencing my phone, and placing it in an unreachable place, such as in a bag in the backseat. This way, I can be alert and focused on my driving task at hand. 

Although the impact may be small, I am determined to use safety techniques and refresh my memory of safe and effective ways to drive daily. The responsibility of transportation should not be taken lightly, and I want to continue doing my part to safely and effectively protect myself and others while on the road.