Many high school students think that driving fast is stimulating.  Some even get a sense of freedom and independence.  However, I have seen that speeding comes with significant dangers.  If an accident occurs, there can be awful consequences not only for the driver but for passengers, pedestrians, or other road users.  It is hard for us youngsters to fully comprehend the fact that we are sitting behind the wheel of a vehicle that weighs over 2000 pounds and is usually travelling between 20 to 70 mph.  We all grew up seeing our parents drive and just couldn’t wait until it was out time.

            One of the primary dangers of driving fast is the increased likelihood of losing control of the car or truck you are driving.  Any small action is magnified by increased speed.  We all learned in drivers education that reaction times decrease the faster you drive.  I remember being told that it takes a few seconds for the mind to get your hands and feet to react to any road hazards.  This makes it harder to respond to sudden obstacles, like vehicles stopping unexpectedly or a people and pets crossing the road.  Unfortunately, most young drivers think their reaction times are excellent.  It goes without saying that if a car traveling at 30 mph hits a pedestrian, the chances of survival are much higher than if it was going 50 or 60 mph.  It also is true that if you hit a stationary object while going at a high rate of speed, your chances of severe injury or death increase.

            I have only been driving for 2 years, but I have noticed that speeding often leads to reckless driving (not on my part).  I have seen other kids driving way to fast even in the school parking lot.  I guess they really have to get to that stop light or stop sign and be first in line to wait.  Speeding is also linked to cars weaving in and out of traffic or tailgating, I think because they are impatient.  We also learned that some young drivers are not aware of the possible consequences of speeding, believing they can handle any situation that arises.  As my Grandpa says, most youngsters think you all are 6 ft tall and bullet proof.  There’s a lot of truth to that statement.

            While speeding can have some very serious consequences as stated above, there are also other implications that are really not stressed enough.  These include the devastating impact on your life and those of anyone involved in an accident resulting in injury are death.  Even minor accidents, which are probably more frequent, will come with significant financial penalties.  These will most likely result in traffic fines, repair and replacement costs, and increased insurance premiums.  But as stated earlier, these pale in comparison to life long injuries or death of those involved in an accident as a result of speeding.  Another serious outcome of speeding or reckless driving is the possibility of jail time.  I can honestly say that is something that was not discussed enough when initially learning to drive.  I can’t imagine the pain and suffering a court trial would have on me and my family, and any resulting jail time is just too much to comprehend.

            On the other hand, practicing safe driving and obeying posted speed limits comes with a lot of benefits.  For example, if you follow speed limit signs and traffic laws, you will be a lot safer.  You hopefully will have fewer accidents and reduce the risk of injury to yourself and others.  In the most extreme case, you will save lives!  It goes without saying that safe driving will lead to fewer tickets and lower insurance costs.  While I don’t currently have to worry about the financial aspects of safe driving, these will probably become more ingrained as we all grow older.

            In conclusion, while driving fast may seem exciting to some younger drivers, it’s pretty obvious that the dangers far outweigh the thrill.  Now that I’ have been driving for a few years, I am starting to be more aware of seeing vehicles that pass me by on the highway usually end up passing me again.   Obviously they got slowed down by traffic, had to stop for fuel, or delayed for many other reasons.  That just proves what the adults in my live keep telling me – Slow down, Be Patient, Enjoy your surroundings, and Get there in one piece.  As a high school senior preparing for college, not speeding and following traffic rules makes it safer for everyone.