Save a Life, Don’t Blow the Light

When you are behind the wheel of the car, it feels like a video game. There’s a disconnect from reality when you’re in complete control of a vehicle. But it’s not just a way to feel free and autonomous. It’s also a one to two ton vehicle that could end someone’s life. It’s important that teenagers understand the gravity of driving. This can be achieved through proper instruction, adult accountability and removing phones as a distraction.

I have been in an accident, but not as the driver. We were going through a green light on a straight road, and someone made a left turn in front of us. There wasn’t enough time for them to clear the intersection and they ended up crashing into us. An elderly lady in that car suffered spleen damage and ended up passing away from complications that arose from the wound. It was a horrible experience, but my sisters and I, as well as our mother, were uninjured aside from seatbelt burns. I saw how shaky my mom was in the week afterward, and how it was hard for her to start driving again after that. Even today, when I pass through that intersection, I remember what happened and keep a sharp eye out.

I went through drivers ed, and our instructors were retired cops, who were brutal but amazing teachers. I think this was a particularly good idea, because they know the law and their instruction reinforced all that I had already learned. We went through driving in reverse and practicing maneuvering through tight spaces. A particularly memorable session was when our instructor had us test our anti-lock brakes by driving at a row of trees. The instructors, both male and female, were gruff but kind, and were much calmer than my parents in the car. We usually drove with another student and traded off through the lesson, and this was a great way to learn through observation. I felt much more comfortable in the car, and definitely road ready by the time I finished the course. Through this experience, I also became more comfortable interacting with police officers.

Most adolescents imitate the driving habits of their parents. I think one of the largest steps that could be taken to promote safer driving is a better system of accountability for the adults on the road. Currently, one has to renew their license every eight years. In addition to renewing it by mail, adults should also be required to retake the sign test and road test. Many adults do not drive safely around others, but if they were held to the standard of passing the road test every time they renewed their license, that would go further to cementing safe driving habits.

Driving while on the phone is incredibly risky. It takes about ten seconds to read a text and respond with a three word reply. If you’re driving at fifty miles an hour, that ten seconds on your phone will carry you over seventy three feet while you’re distracted. Our driving instructor took us to a wide open road, with no cars, and told us to close our eyes for ten seconds while driving at a high speed. It was chilling to realize how far I could go, and how much could happen in such a short amount of time. To remedy this, I propose an app that locks your phone when driving. You would need to log in to this app to unlock your car, and from that time until the time you arrive at your destination, it would lock your phone from opening all but the navigation apps.

Personally, I need to pay more attention to what I see on the road. In a familiar area, I relax, but this is exactly when I should be paying the most attention to irregularities in my environment. I need to heighten my reaction time and keep my head even in a stressful situation. My parents have done an excellent job coaching me and my sister how to drive, but I still have a lot to learn and have to be very careful while driving in cities and on major highways.

My hope is that through awareness and accountability, the road can be made a safer place for everyone who drives it. I challenge you to examine your driving habits and behavior on the road. When you take the time to educate your child about road safety, or make an effort to stay off your phone, you help make the world a safer place.