In The Driver’s Seat

In the driver’s seat

I am a thrilled 16-year-old
who just got his drivers’ license in January.

I believe that practice makes
all the difference in safe driving – it helps get to know traffic
rules and how to behave while driving.

My experience, although
limited, tells me that there are two main problems that cause car
accidents: lack of attention and recklessness regarding speed. I have
had a close call to lack of attention while driving, and while I was
frightened immediately after it happened, I gained experience from
the mistakes I made that day, and overconfidence has long stopped
being an issue when it comes to my driving skills. I try to respect
my limits, knowing that I can push them further over time as I gain
more experience.

I believe that when it comes
to reducing the risks of drivers texting, drinking, or speeding,
there are two steps to be followed: the first step is to make drivers
aware of the risks they pose to themselves, their passengers, and
others drivers, thus avoiding any danger whatsoever, and the second
step is to effectively enforce traffic rules, reducing the risk of
the offender committing the same mistake repeatedly.

Despite being young, I do
realize that driving is a privilege that must be earned every time I
am behind the wheel, and that there is a level of responsibility to
be maintained, which includes knowing when not to drive. Even if I am
running late, I acknowledge that speeding may fix that problem, but
it may bring an array of problems to me and others. That same goes
for driving tired or in a very bad mood. There may be only a small
chance that I will crash considering the suburban neighborhood I live
in, but when I am driving, I always play on the safe side.