Two

Pablo Picasso once said, “I am always doing that which I can’t do, in order that I may learn how to do it,” and to me, this is the fundamental blueprint of driving. You see, driving seems very easy, and frankly, IT IS. But being a master at driving is much harder to achieve. Our society is set up to be comforting to the point where if something is hard, you find a way not to do it instead of learning how to do it correctly. This idea is one I frown upon. People can’t park, so they park wrong and give up. But where did the ancient or present idea of practice makes perfect go? An idea that our great great grandmothers instilled in our great grandmothers who instilled in our grandmothers, who instilled in our mothers and now who instilled in us. The first step is to practice. Practicing is the fundamental key to becoming an All-Star driver, a driver who drastically has a lower chance of a reck. Practicing the hard parking concepts and learning how to parallel park to become perfect. Driving is a powerful skill that empowers individuals with the freedom of mobility, but it also comes with significant responsibilities. Practice plays a pivotal role in enhancing driving skills, improving situational awareness, and fostering a responsible driving culture. Firstly, practice hones driving skills, transforming novices into seasoned drivers. Experience on the road enables individuals to develop a natural instinct, enabling them to handle various driving scenarios with greater ease and confidence. With practice, parallel parking becomes more precise, lane changes become seamless, and navigating through challenging weather conditions becomes less intimidating. Secondly, consistent practice fosters heightened situational awareness. As drivers gain more experience, they learn to anticipate potential hazards, identify risky behaviors in other road users, and adapt accordingly. This heightened awareness significantly reduces the likelihood of accidents and enables drivers to react swiftly to unpredictable situations. Moreover, practice instills a culture of responsibility and discipline. Regularly practicing defensive driving techniques encourages individuals to prioritize safety over speed, practice patience, and maintain self-control while driving. This, in turn, leads to a ripple effect in society as safer driving habits are passed on to future generations. As individuals devote time to honing their skills, they become more adept at handling diverse driving situations, exhibit heightened situational awareness, and embody responsible driving habits. Governments, driving schools, and society as a whole must encourage and prioritize practice as a crucial step toward creating a safer driving environment for all. Through practice, we can pave the way for a brighter, accident-free future on the roads. With practice, We can help make the roads safer, but another major factor is peer influence. Teenagers, as they venture into the world of driving, face a host of challenges in navigating the roads safely. One underutilized yet potent tool in promoting safer driving habits among teens is the influence of their peers. Peer influence can positively impact teen behavior on the road, leading to a significant reduction in accidents and fostering a culture of responsible driving. Firstly, teens are inherently social beings, and peer influence often carries more weight than parental advice or traditional driving education. When young drivers witness their friends practicing safe driving behaviors, they are more likely to emulate these actions. As a result, the presence of responsible driving role models within their peer group can lead to a chain reaction of safer habits. Secondly, collective encouragement from peers reinforces the importance of safe driving practices. Peer-led discussions and activities that focus on road safety can create a sense of camaraderie among teen drivers. They can discuss experiences, share tips, and hold each other accountable for maintaining responsible driving behavior. Furthermore, peer influence can mitigate risky behavior. By promoting a culture of responsible driving within their social circles, teens may feel less pressured to engage in reckless actions like speeding or distracted driving. They become more invested in building a positive reputation among their peers for being safe drivers. To harness the potential of peer influence, schools, driving education programs, and parents should encourage peer-to-peer road safety initiatives. This can include creating student-led road safety clubs, organizing workshops, and integrating peer-led discussions into driving education curriculums. However, it is vital to acknowledge that peer influence can also have negative consequences. Thus, emphasizing the importance of choosing the right friends and influencers is crucial. Encouraging teens to surround themselves with responsible, safety-conscious peers can mitigate the risk of negative peer pressure. With these two fundamental steps, Driving can become much safer and help keep America’s roads safe and secure for all drivers. Pablo Picasso’s idea of doing the hard relates to the idea of our parents saying practice makes perfect, and together can keep you and the roads safe. Plus peer pressure culture of America can help keep roads safer since these are the people who teens are around mostly during this transitional period in the teens life. And lastly, Take it slow. Michelangelo, at 87 years old, said, “Ancora Imparo – I am still learning,” and so are you and forever will be.