Freedom

Last summer, I took drivers ed. It was an old van with
crank windows and a mirror that would vibrate once a certain speed
was reached. It was a stick shift and the radio didn’t work. It was
a lovely, old, gray color and had yellow accents all over it. It
smelled the exact opposite of a new car smell. Although the car was
absolutely dreadful, the lessons I learned and the people I shared
these lessons with were irreplaceable.

In driver’s
education, we learned how to be a safe driver as well as all of the
standard things such as right-of-way and how to read route markers.
However, some of the most impactful lessons were those that couldn’t
be directly taught- the dangers of reckless driving. We didn’t
learn this by careening around the country roads wildly, but we were
shown videos about how reckless driving was a danger in our society.
Since they were emotional videos, their message stuck. We had equally
emotional conversations afterwards, talking about people our
classmates knew that had been impacted by the dangers of unsafe
driving. These lessons were the most important because they showed
the dangers of our newfound freedom. Most people who aren’t exposed
to the risks will continue to drive recklessly, which may endanger
themselves and others. By exposing us to the negative impacts and not
sugar-coating the dangers, we could recognize exactly how safe we
needed to be without feeling as if we were being scolded.

More steps like the
above could be taken to reduce deaths. Individuals can spread
information on how to drive safely and deal with emergencies. Speed
limits and anti-texting laws could be enforced more, as well as anti
drinking laws. Punishments could be more severe and more talked
about. By making people more aware, we can cut down on deaths by
driving.

Although I have
never been in a car accident, my best friend has. She was rear ended
going into a work zone where the speed limit was lowered. The guy
behind her hadn’t even slowed down. He was texting. Her car was
totaled.

To be a better and
safer driver, you can take a variety of steps. You can put down your
phone and wear a seat belt. You can go the speed limit and can pay
attention to the roads. You can watch all of the other cars and keep
an eye out for hazards and pedestrians. You can have your car
inspected regularly and take a drivers ed course if you
haven’t already. You can plan for time so you don’t have to worry
about getting somewhere late. A few minutes isn’t worth someone’s
life.

Driving does indeed
have its perks. It allows teenagers to go places independently and
freely. However, with those perks come great responsibility. When
you’re at the wheel, you have to be super cautious. Try not to take
advantage of having a smartphone at your fingertips or drag racing
another car to look cool. Be safe, so you can continue to enjoy your
freedoms.