Could it have waited?

Drivers
Ed Essay

“Could
it have waited?”

An
average car weighs 2,871 pounds, and at only 16 years old teenagers
are given control of this machine. Is something wrong with this
picture? Without proper education, yes there is something wrong with
this picture. Drivers ed is vital because it teaches young,
eager teens that if they do not drive responsibly, there can be
serious consequences. It teaches that even the smallest mistake can
be fatal for them or someone else.

Spreading
awareness is one of the biggest steps that can be taken to help
prevent deaths caused by car accidents. If people are regularly
reminded about the dangers of driving distractedly, they will most
likely take this into consideration and drive consciously. Another
step that can be taken is to enforce new, stricter driving laws that
if broken, have heavier penalties. This way roads would become safer
thanks to the increasing number of cautious drivers.

Throughout
my life there have been a couple close calls, but I have been
fortunate enough to have never been in a car accident. I am also
lucky to inform you that most of my family and friends have never
been in car accidents either. Unfortunately, several of my friends
have shown me their irresponsible driving habits. Many of them think
that it is okay to send just one Snapchat while they are driving on
the highway or just one text while they are at a red light. I do not
think they understand that in under a second a crash can occur if
distractions are present. I believe anyone that has family or friends
that display actions such as the ones stated should tell them to get
off their phone and pay attention to the road. It may be annoying to
them, but it is better than having to feel the immeasurable guilt of
taking someone else’s life due to distracted driving.

There
are many steps I can take to become a safer driver. I can always wear
my seat belt. I can put my phone in the back seat where I will not be
able to reach it. I can keep my music at a low volume so that I can
hear my surroundings. The list goes on and on, but what can I do to
help others become safer drivers? I can remind them what safe driving
looks like. If those around you see you demonstrating safe driving,
they too will follow your good habits, thus creating a domino effect.

In
conclusion, I ask everyone to imagine themselves at the scene of an
accident. There are two drivers involved and one is dead. You are the
lucky driver that gets to walk away alive. In your mind, you know
that this crash could have been avoided if you had just not sent that
one text. An officer knows this too. He walks up to you amidst the
chaos and asks you, “could it have waited?”.