Teenagers display reckless driving habits

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Driving: it can either be an exciting opportunity or a liability. Which way do you drive

Lately, there has been some pretty questionable driving in the parking lot, on the way to and from school. I see people driving in the parking lot like it is the highway, driving so closely behind cars you probably could not even walk between them, and backing up without looking to try to be the first person out of the parking lot. I am not the only one to encounter these situations, as I often hear others tell their own stories of students’ reckless habits behind the wheel. These errors were not just a single mistake or a “woopsie” moment; no, it is how some students drive.

Now, I am not saying I am the perfect driver, because I am not. Although I do make driver errors sometimes, I drive safely and realize the impacts that driving can have on others. Sometimes students may not realize the risk they are taking every time they back out without looking first, or put the pedal to the metal in the parking lot.

For most of us, getting a license is the biggest step toward adulthood we have made, and we should not take advantage of this opportunity. Driving gives us the freedom to go practically anywhere we want, to listen to loud music and sing along, to go and leave places when we want, and to make more of our own decisions. If you think that your parents do not give you enough freedom, driving is your time to show that you can be responsible, and are worthy of more independence. If you show your parents that you can drive and follow the law, they will most likely trust you more, therefore giving you more freedom to do as you please.

According to Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, teens are at four times greater of a risk to be in an accident. Cars.com explains that one of the biggest reasons teenagers are at jeopardy is because of high-risk taking. We often feel invincible behind the wheel; this, however, is a major flaw in our thought process. We need to be aware of our surroundings and know that the consequences that can occur are very real. Distracted driving is also on the list of teenage driving faults. We may think we can handle talking on the phone, snacking on a granola bar and changing the radio station while trying to drive. Having several passengers and driving late at night are also risky behaviors.

But, what is the good news? According to rmiia.org, fewer teenagers have been fatally injured in car accidents over the years. In 2011, 3,023 teenagers sustained fatal injuries in a car crash – this is three percent less than in 2010, and 65 percent less than in 1975.

So, next time you are behind the wheel, use your newfound freedom wisely and think and drive safely.