Teens Need to Step Up

Getting
my driving permit and license all felt too easy. I now had
responsibility of a 3,000-pound vehicle and all I really did was take
a multiple-choice test and drive around for 15 minutes. Getting my
license meant I had the huge responsibility to make sure I did not
make a mistake that would cost someone’s life. I had some
experience but the prospect was daunting nonetheless.

Driver
education was not offered at my school but, you could pay a few
hundred dollars for week long a course at a driving school. Drivers
education should be implemented in schools free of cost so that more
kids have access to training that could be vital during this crucial
learning period. Teenagers do not know every situation that they
might get into while driving and a course at school would be a
convenient and easy way to learn. I know I would have taken the class
to feel more confident in my driving.

Distraction
was a factor in over 6 out of 10 moderate to severe crashes according
to American Automobile Association. It follows that the key to
reducing crashes, especially with teens, is to reduce distractions.
Not using a cellphone and turning down the music are little ways that
reduce this risk. Teens can be more than an accident statistic with
just a few precautions. If more people understood that their life and
others are on the line early on then maybe distraction would happen
less.

I
have witnessed friends and family driving irresponsibly in the past.
Whether they were messing with their phone for a minute or trying to
change the song on the radio. Thankfully none of them have been in a
crash but, the behavior is risky regardless. In these situations,
their eyes are off the road, one hand is on the wheel, and the car
moves uncertainly. My anxiety spikes up and I immediately try to be a
good passenger and take over the task and have them focus on the
road.

My
advice to others is to call out bad behavior when you see it. It is a
little awkward at first but that talk outweighs them potentially
losing their life. My dad would always try to be on his phone while
driving. I talked to him about how scared it made me when he did that
and my concern for him was enough to get him to stop. It is important
that others do this with friends and family. Life is important and
you can make a difference in someone else’s with just a small talk
and setting a good example.