Too Many Times I’ve Seen My Friends

Kim
Tran

Too
Many Times I’ve Seen My Friends

Imagine
sitting next to a driver who is unable to distinguish the gas pedal
from the brake. Imagine sitting next to a driver who is unable to
stay in the middle of the lane, imagine a driver who does not know
how to drive. It is required to take drivers ed to ensure that
everyone on the road is safe. That is simply it, to keep everyone
safe. And yet teenagers, drunk drivers, and people who are consumed
in their own ego drive without the slightest care. I have never been
in a serious accident but everyone has that gut wrenching feeling
after witnessing a horrible accident. And seeing my friends drive,
without a care because of teenage idiocy, recreates that gut
wrenching feeling. There are the basic steps to reduce the number of
deaths related to driving like checking mirrors, being aware of one’s
surroundings, and keeping an eye on the road at all times without
distractions. But no one questions preparing a person mentally. As a
teenager, I have been in a car with teenagers who live like everyday
is their last. What no teenager understands is that their actions can
have consequences on other people. The first step to reduce the
number of deaths is to make sure that you are only thinking about
what is happening on the road. Too many times I have seen my peers
and friends constantly checking their phone to see if their messages
are more important than keeping your eyes on the road. And driver
education teaches you to always pay attention to what is in front of
you, but it never changes the mindset of a young teenager. And a few
jokes passed around about keeping your eyes on the road does not
change much. But my feelings of being unsafe and my fear for the
lives of others pushes me to make sure that my friends remain
responsible. The road is a scary thing but most people don’t
consider that. So what steps can I take to be a better and safer
driver is to make sure the people around me have the same mindset as
I do. A person’s life is not worth “looking cool.” A person’s
life is certainly not worth going over the speed limit because of the
adrenaline it creates. I hope that it is basic knowledge to never
drive under the influence and I know that everyone knows the phase
“eyes on the road.” But driving is a privilege, not a right and
it should not be abused.