Getting one’s license can be a fulfilling and often exciting moment for students, as it marks the beginning of one’s shift into adulthood and self-dependence

However, with the excitement that comes with being able to drive it can be easy to get lost in the feeling and lose sight of the responsibility that comes with driving. 

 It is the job of every driver to take reasonable measures to remain safe on the road, not simply for their own sake but for the sake of others as well. 

While at times it may seem that there is no issue with driving dangerously since nothing bad has happened yet, dangerous driving cannot only put one’s own life at risk but can unintentionally cause other drivers to crash in an effort to avoid your reckless driving.

“In the school parking lot, I hit a parent driver when I was backing up,” senior Aiden Crossan said. “I was just expecting it to be a normal trip home, but then I got surprised.”

So despite what you may think, keeping in mind that your driving affects others is important to stay safe.

This is especially true for student drivers who have much less experience and less understanding of the dangers of the road when compared to older drivers.

“Teen drivers [between ages 16-19] have a fatal crash rate almost three times as high as drivers ages 20 and older per mile driven,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. 

Meaning that, even if you consider yourself a good driver or not, it is important to consider others’ inexperience in driving and act accordingly.

So even if you consider yourself a safe driver, you should always keep in mind that you can make mistakes no matter how comfortable you get with driving.

“You want to be alert, pay attention, and don’t look at your phone,” senior Robert Powel said. “The best thing you can do to stay safe is to keep your eyes on the road and get rid of distractions.”