The Hazard of Teen Driving

Teenagers are addicted. We’re addicted to knowing what everyone is doing and don’t enjoy feeling disconnected. This necessity to always be on our phones and communicating can get us into dangerous waters. Texting while driving is responsible for 25% of car accidents and teens are four times more likely to be part of that 25%. These statistics reveal the severity of a problem that is completely avoidable. You are responsible for yours and others’ lives. Driving is a normal activity, but not taking it seriously can have terrifying consequences. These car accidents are not inevitable.

I remember having to watch a video of teeneagers who got in car accidents before taking my drivers test. It was definitely a tactic to scare us and boy did it work. I was terrified. In one story, a girl got in an accident that almost killed her because she was texting while driving. Not long after, she got in another accident while texting and driving and died. This emphasized that who dies from texting and driving can seem like a coincidence, but it really is so easy. Afterwards, my friends watched the video and everyone was scared. I truly believe the video saved us, especially when we were first driving and inexperienced. The ignorance of teenagers to think it’ll never happen to them is one of our biggest downfalls, especially when it comes to driving safely. Making sure people are aware and hear personal stories is impactful. Videos like this one should be played in school because of how common it is among teenagers to be reckless and how dangerous driving at school can be.

All this said, I’m somewhat of a hypocrite. Overtime, you see other people texting while driving and get more confident. I started to think that I could do it. I could text and drive. I never did it often, but I occasionally would look at my phone. One day I was driving down a street in a neighborhood. My friends were all texting and trying to make plans, so I felt that I just had to read the messages right then and there. I started to text, and when I looked up, I was on the wrong side of the road. I was completely in a lane going the opposite direction, and in the distance I could see a car head on. They were far enough away and neither of us were going very fast, but this terrified me to my core. It still does. I have never been so frightened in my life. So many emotions came to my head: what if they weren’t paying attention? How could I be so reckless? Juliette, you know this is dangerous. Imagine you just died right there. For no reason. I immediately thought back to the girl with the two accidents who had died. As dangerous as this sounds, nothing really sticks with people more than personal experience. I know it’s not a solution, but nothing is more impactful than hands-on, personal situations. I will never put my or anyone else’s life at risk again for something so trivial as texting.

Although it can be hard to get anything through a tennager’s thick skull, I do think preventative measures should be taken when driving. We should make kids aware of the power, danger, and responsibility of driving. People really need to be educated and made aware of themselves and their surroundings. While driving, a phone should stop itself from being able to text. Although kids would find a way around it, the overall amount of phone time would be greatly reduced. Students need to not be afraid to tell someone they are driving and can’t text. The conversation can continue later and the world doesn’t depend on sending a text or checking Instagram at that moment. If it’s truly an emergency or necessity to text, then pull over. Pull into a parking lot or somewhere safe, take care of what needs to be sorted out, and then continue driving. When on the road, driving should be the priority and focus. Anything can happen at any time. Other people are unpredictable. You need to be responsive to the environment, and texting will not allow you to be. I also think that fines should be warranted from police officers more often for texting while driving. A helpful preventative action is to place your phone out of reach. Put it in your bag, the glove box, or somewhere you won’t be tempted to use it if bored. A phone is not an acceptable distraction while driving. Driving is a specific situation that should be handled differently and seen as such.

A product that I think could be helpful is a locked box for phones. It won’t be accessible until you stop driving. It could be attached to the car and open when in park. GPS would still work in the car, but this is an extra precaution that could be taken. Also, some insurance companies have a safer driving policy that I think makes a big difference. There is a device placed in the car, and the insurance company tracks how good your driving is. Your deductible depends on your score. I think this is a great motivator and way for everyone to track responsible driving.

It is so important to educate teenagers on safe driving because they are reckless. We can be naive or overly confident. Driving is often an opportunity to brag or feel cool. We don’t consider the danger or power we have behind a wheel. It is a heavy responsibility to yourself, to others in the car, and to the other cars on the road. Cars are dangerous and it should be a priority to reduce these generous driving habits.