Drivers Safety

Drivers
Safety

By:
Makayla Cunningham

For
young drivers and drivers that are just starting out, it’s
important for them to understand all the risks that come with being
behind the wheel. Nowadays, for Michigan drivers someone dies 0.95
per every 100 million miles traveled. In 2019, there were 38,000
lives lost and 4,050 were teens. These numbers are significant
because there’s things that can be done to reduce the numbers.
Although accidents themselves can’t be avoided (other than people
driving more safely), there are more educational views that can be
addressed more regularly. Especially for younger drivers.

Drivers
education gives drivers important information not only about what
everything means (signs, street lines, etc.), but how to look out for
themselves and others. By doing this, drivers can make better
judgement calls while on the roads. Thereby, drivers are taking more
safer precautions that will help to decrease the number of deaths
caused by driving. In these conditions, the number of accidents and
crashes will decrease as well.

When I
first started to drive, my parents warned me to always drive
cautiously because teen drivers “will always get in an accident
within the 6 month- 1 year mark of their driving”. I have been
driving for almost 2 years now, and my first accident was in December
2019. I was stopped at a red light, and due to the other driver being
high, I was rear-ended. It has always been important to me, not to
participate in any underage drinking, drug consumption, or vaping.
Although there was nothing I could have done to avoid this situation
I strive to never partake in any dangerous act that could harm myself
or others around me. Thus, I don’t believe that I have driven
irresponsibility. However, I know that with the numbers of teenage
alcohol related accidents increasing, my peers have driven
irresponsibly. Personally, I try to never put myself in this type of
situation. So I’ve never witnessed any of my friends doing so. But
I do know it happens regularly.

Drivers
today have the opportunity to learn how to stay safe while on the
roads. It is very difficult to do anything more than that, because
it’s a choice whether to “think safe” or do the opposite.
However, I do think that there could be yearly check-ins with young
drivers. Just to see how they are practicing safe driving. Even if
another test, of important information, needs to be given.

For me,
I will always do my best to “think safe” while behind the wheel.
You never know the consequences that can result from making the wrong
choice.