Name: Arf
From: Hoover, Alabama
Votes: 0
Alert
Today – Alive Tomorrow
Driver
Education is an important asset to have when it comes to teens.
Research has proved that “teens taking drivers ed are less
likely to be involved in crashes or to receive a traffic violation
during their first two years of driving.” Most teen crashes and
fatality rates are highest at ages 16-18, so these reductions are
meaningful. Young drivers run a greater risk everywhere, and this
problem is still largely unsolved. A major reason that young drivers
are overrepresented in car crashes is that they are inexperienced,
lacking the necessary driving skills and capabilities. If teens have
a better understanding of the underlying process, it could be a
useful tool in preventive measures. A prevalent response to address
the complexities inherent in driving has been to ensure that the
needed skills and capabilities are provided to the teen before full
licensing is permitted. There is value in teens gaining driver
education which can make up for this lack of knowledge about driving.
Even after receiving drivers ed, there will always be a
possibility of a car crash. It is partly the fault of the state
government that issues lenient enforcement of seatbelt, drunken
driving and speeding regulation by authorities and a reluctance by
lawmakers to pass more restrictive measures. In about 15 states, not
wearing a seatbelt is only a secondary offense, meaning drivers can’t
be pulled over for the infraction, but only ticketed for it after
being stopped for another offense. There have also been budget cuts
that have reduced police ranks in some states, thus leading to less
enforcement of speeding and drunk-driving laws. Many teen drivers
seem to be on their phones either texting or snapping which is a
major distraction from paying attention to the road. Similar to how
technology increased fatality rates, it also has the power to
decrease it. There are existing apps that are made to prevent a
person from accessing certain apps while driving which can be
beneficial for the teens. Also, many automakers have incorporated
apps into their car systems that stream music, provides directions,
or allows for calls. Many cars have a hands-free text messaging
system. The driver has all the resources he or she needs for
entertainment or emergencies, so there should be no reason that the
driver reaches for their phone. Automakers or phone suppliers need to
implement a form of lockout technology which prevents the driver from
checking their phones while driving as there is no need to check the
phone when all the resources are already provided. Being a victim of
this recklessness of teens, I was involved in a car accident not long
ago. Speeding, texting, taking pictures, and driving all at the same
time, my cousin didn’t realize she was following a car too closely
and ended up crashing halfway into the car in front of her. That had
been my first car accident experience in which I was blessed that no
one was injured; however, the car was damaged. I was upset at my
cousin for being irresponsible and multitasking while driving. It
annoyed me to know that this car accident could have been easily
avoided if she was prioritizing driving over checking the
notifications on her phone. Dissoapitning as a role model, my cousin
was an example of what I was to be careful of when I am driving on
the roads. When I started to learn to drive, the most important
advice my father shared was to always keep a distance from the car in
front of you. Many car accidents happen because of following a car
too closely. Many teens feel superior to the other drivers on the
road by flexing their driving through speeding. Although speeding
sounds fun, I would rather be safe than sorry. As soon as I start the
ignition of the car, my awareness levels boost up as that is an
important quality in all drivers. Alert behavior is a major factor in
ensuring safe driving as an alert teen attempts to drive within the
speed limit, keep a safe distance from the car ahead, stay off the
phone, watch for red lights, etc. There are days when school work
keeps me awake and I can barely keep my eyes open in the morning, so
during those days, coffee or energy drinks are my best friend. The
caffeine and sugar might not be beneficial to my health; however, it
is better to have a sugar intake than to fall asleep while driving.
Even the smallest things can make a difference, so it is important to
take safety precautions as soon as the car is in the driveway. With
the participation of the majority of the teens, we can make a
difference in assuring a safer driving environment where car deaths
are less prevalent.
Alert
Today – Alive Tomorrow
-
The
essay discusses how important drivers ed it for the teens as
they are the prevalent victims of the car crashes. The essay
highlights the reckless behavior of the teens and suggestions to
take preventive measures. The essay emphasizes how important safe
driving is to me and the precautions I take before I driving.
