Watch Your Back!(And Your Left, Right, Up, Down, And Across)

Having a vehicle is a luxury and being unknowledgeable with a luxury that requires care, maintenance, and most importantly, responsibility can be extremely jeopardizing if the driver is not adequately informed about the dangers of driving. Educating the people on the rules of the road is not only preferred but absolutely necessary for the safety of the community, especially the youth. Many believe that enforcing and promoting road and driver safety in education programs is vital if we want to see a positive progression in the decreasement of the deaths caused by car accidents. For example, in March 2023, “16-year-old driver didn’t have license in deadly Westchester County crash, officials say” (Eyewitness News, ABC 7, NY). After thoroughly reading this article, I learned about a very tragic accident that occurred earlier this year. A 16- year- old unlicensed driver was driving irresponsibly and took the lives of 4 children between the ages of 8-17 by falling asleep behind the wheel, according to officials. This is a very tragic and unfortunate story however; all we can do is learn from these mistakes so that we don’t repeat them. This is a perfect example of why educating the youth, especially on the safety of the road, is vital. Before getting your license in the state of Connecticut you must complete an 8- hour course on driving safety including the rules of the road. They talk about the dangers of driving impaired, sleeping behind the wheel, the protection of pedestrians and so much more. These courses are mandatory because the state wants to keep its citizens safe and informed. If this 16-year-old had his permit at least, he would’ve understood that most drivers / future drivers know that if they are feeling tired, they shouldn’t even get behind the wheel.

This is a topic that I’m very passionate about. I would like to share a personal anecdote that heavily relates to this topic and can help the reader understand why driving safety is so important to me. It was 2010, just a few months after permanently moving from Puerto Rico to the United States. We were having a family party and I remember wanting to go home. I was 6 years old, and I ran across the street and suddenly, I was struck by a white car that was being driven irresponsibly. The person driving the car was going over the speed limit. Regardless, my family, especially my mom, was devastated and worried about me and I was so scared because I didn’t know what was going on. The neighbors helped me, and the ambulance took me away. Now 19, I suffer from severe PTSD and have trouble sleeping because of that one incident. Not only that but, I never discovered if I got a concussion because of that or any other physical injuries that can be detrimental to my well-being and progression in life, and because of this accident I now look at all sides of the street before crossing, up , down, left , right, and across, and if I had eyes behind my head I would also look there as well. This is a great example of why educating adults on driving is also very important for the safety of the community. Many adults drive without a license, and they may think they know how to drive and can drive well however, not having a license or a permit means you did not take the important steps like educational and prestigious courses that are required for a person to be deemed as a “safe driver” on the road.

My family, just like any other family, is not perfect. Sometimes the adults in my family give the younger ones too much freedom and liberty and not enough responsibility to take accountability for their actions. When I was 14 years old my older cousin who was probably 17 years old at the time, let me drive my aunt’s car. Of course, I crashed it. I didn’t know how to drive, I was 14 however, my cousin did know how to drive but she was not driving responsibly. Thankfully we were both fine and nobody got hurt, I crashed it under a bridge. My cousin was on the phone with her friend the whole time, even while driving. She also let me drive at 14 years old knowing that I wasn’t capable of driving, nor had I had the educational background or knowledge or a person that could legally drive. This proves that teens just want to be cool and show off their cars because at that age you don’t think about the consequences much, you think about the popularity and the adventures that adulthood has to offer. Afterall, driving a car is a huge milestone. This is why it is significant to implement the rules of the road into the yearly curriculum of teens. Not only to keep the youth educated but as time progresses the rules of the road will change and there may be stop lights in the sky. So, as parents, teachers, and leaders, it is crucial to educate the youth about such topics as road safety, statistics, the dangers of texting and driving, driving under the influence, and topics of that nature. Being educated on these topics means having the knowledge and background to make informed decisions that could potentially save a life or prevent permanently scarring one, like mine.

As a 19-year-old that is heading off to college next month, I just recently got my driver’s license. This has been such a great achievement for me because I am moving to a new and unfamiliar place, and I needed to make sure that I had the proper documentation to not only protect myself but also so that my friends and family can feel safe when I am behind the wheel. A driver’s license is more than just an Identification card to me. It is proof that you have completed the proper requirements such as educating yourself on driver safety and taking the required courses that you need to have a license. There are several other people in my family that are striving to get their license and me passing my road test with an 87 motivated them so much that they scheduled their appointments.

In conclusion, having a vehicle is a luxury and being unknowledgeable with a luxury that requires care, maintenance, and most importantly, responsibility can be extremely jeopardizing if the driver is not adequately informed about the dangers of driving. Thankfully we live in a country that stives to provide the proper resources for its citizens to practice safe driving because they understand the magnitude of its significance, it can cost a life. It’s never too early to teach the youth about safe driving because one day they will be behind the wheel, they will have to make those decisions and implementing those courses into their curriculums will help them make informed decisions, emphasizing on the fact that these rules of the road are implemented to keep everyone safe. Remember to drive safely so that you don’t scar a life permanently like mine or even worse end one. Remember to wear your seatbelt’s and drive safely.