Every time someone steps into a car they are responsible for keeping themselves and everybody else on the roads safe. To keep the roads civil and protected, there are rules and safety precautions in place. The demographic of people that tend to forget or not care about these rules are very often teenagers. Whether teens have the mindset that they’re invincible and not prone to consequences, it is still important to recognize the dangers of being on the road.
Distractions in a vehicle are a major reason why teen crashes are so prevalent. The world is in a time of technological advancement with access to phones, radios, and so much more. All the older generations had already learned how to drive without these distractions, so they are not as prone to being on their phone while driving, compared to teens who are learning to take time away from their screens in a technology driven world.
Michigan Auto Law is a firm that represents people that are injured in an accident. They are big advocates for promoting teen safety while driving. The week of October 20-26 was National Teen Driver Safety week. Michigan Auto Law promotes safety through scholarships, community outreach, partnership, and through additional information on their website. Chris Hunter is a lawyer at Michigan Auto Law who has been practicing for almost 30 years in both Michigan and Ohio. He has represented teens that have been in crashes due to distracted driving and represented people injured in a crash caused by a teenager driving distracted.
“Every generation looks at the generation behind them and says we didn’t do this that way, or we didn’t do this that way. The biggest difference is technology,” Hunter said. “Drivers who text are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash.”
Driving is a privilege. That privilege is something that should be earned. Past generations had different struggles, but by the time they were considered experienced is when portable technology like phones had arrived at society.
“That’s the difference with experience. In my teenage years, I was invincible and immortal. I did a lot of stupid things and when I look back, I’m really shocked and surprised that one, I did it and that no one was injured,” Hunter said.
Starting to drive is the one the biggest challenges people face. The fear, excitement, and nerves of being on the road and the sense of freedom that comes with being able to go anywhere at the drop of a hat. But, while gaining that freedom is an important part of growing up, being aware of the laws and how to keep people safe is another important part of that.
Kelsey’s Law is a law that was created after the unfortunate death of a teenage girl. She was on her phone when she got into a car crash that took her life. Looking past their grief, her family took action about speaking up on the dangers of distracted driving. They wanted to try and prevent crashes from happening to anybody else.
Teenagers being aware of these laws and understanding they are in place for their safety, is an important part of keeping the roads safe. Looking past a mindset of invincibility and maturing as an individual.
“My mom was in a car accident a couple months ago due to a person being on their phone. It made me feel like some people don’t understand the dangers [of texting and driving] until it’s too far” 11th grade student, Jessica Elzerman said.
Schools and parents can always help educate the youth by continuing to reenforce these rules to teen drivers. Remind them of the ways of the road, tell them the Kelsey’s story, and educate them on a what a good driver is.
“Spending time with their kids. Modeling that good behavior. When the parents are in the car they shouldn’t be on their phone, not answering a call, and not engaging in those activities,” Hunter said.
Driver’s training can only do so much for teens. They cover the basics and start the thinking process for teens, but ultimately it is up to the parents to keep enforcing that good behavior for their children. Behavior is learned at home; therefore, parent’s need to have those hard conversations with their children and remind them about dangers of being on the road like distracted driving.
Teenage drivers are the newest people on their road and with the rise in technology, it can be hard to be the picture-perfect driver. Being on the road can be a nerve-wracking experience and those nerves can also fuel impulsiveness which is just teenage nature. But when all is said in done, driving is a privilege. The privilege is a wonder opportunity that individuals can experience, yet that opportunity can be diminished if not used properly. Knowing the rules and laws, being aware of one’s surroundings, and eliminating distractions: all important aspects of being a good, active driver. While it may be hard for some, taking these precautions may save a life.
