Name: Kristin Haylee Bishop
From: Scurry, TX
Votes: 32
The
Future is In Our Hands
By
Kristin Bishop
When we turned
15, it was all about the excitement of getting past ‘the test’ to
get our permit. All the classwork related to drivers ed seemed
like just something we had to get through. Then after 16 came along
and the REAL test was taken, things started to change. Having
another person in the car watching our every move things became clear
that knowing what to do was pretty important. After having a license
and driving on my own, I see now that drivers ed is crucially
important in so many ways. There are so many people out there that
may be distracted for any number of reasons – texting being one of
the top ones – that I must be on my guard at all times and drive
defensively.
The US and
Department of Motor Vehicles have already taken many steps to reduce
the number of deaths related to driving, by bringing awareness to the
texting problem. However, some institutions have gone a step
further. My school staged a real texting and driving “accident”
on school grounds, complete with “bodies” lying around. It
looked so real, that many of us just stood there and cried. The kids
who “died” had good futures in front of them – the band
leaders, the football players, the valedictorian. Needless to say,
this was impactful for all of us. I wish more schools would do the
same and bring this message so close to home. Seeing your friends
lying on the ground is something that never leaves your mind.
I have never been
in a car accident, but I have observed friends and family members
driving irresponsibly by texting or looking at email. Sometimes,
they cross the center median and we are on a two-lane road.
Regardless of who it is, I say “can I help you with that?” and
grab their phone. If it’s urgent I can send the text for them. If
not, they will say “no it can wait” and put their phone down.
Many of my friends will do the same to each other. It’s becoming
a habit to put our phones out of reach or hand them to the passenger
when we get in the car to drive.
This is how we
become better and safer drivers – by constantly reminding each
other to watch the road, stay off your phone, and remember the
important people who are riding with you. It’s our habits that
must change if we are to make an impact, given the number of
accidents that happen this way. There may not be second chances in a
bad accident. Whose future is in your hands?
