“Taking The Wheel, Accountable And Committed to Safety”

“We’re about to get hit.” I hear the words, but they do not sink in, at least not until my head bounces off the side glass. My friend’s dad was driving, and he had been drilling my friend with different driving situations, trying to prepare her for her driver’s permit test. I already had my license, so I was only subconsciously listening from the back seat. In other words, I was absorbed in the latest social updates on my phone, and his voice was only background noise. When his warning erupted, I assumed it was just another quiz on defensive driving. But, to the contrary, this action was live and uncensored. The car in front of us braked and signaled to turn. We braked, but the car behind us did not. The car struck us from behind, knocking us into the car in front. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured, but the pump knot on my head was a reality check on how fast an accident can happen, even to an experienced driver who is following all the rules.

Of course, since a driver’s education course and holding a permit for six months were both required for me to obtain my license, I had been through driver’s training. I chose to enroll in a private program, and in this course, not only did I get a tutorial on the rules of the road, but I learned driving is not a task to be taken lightly. The one thing that impacted me most was a video of a fatal accident where a child had not been wearing a seatbelt. It was during this portion of training that I truly comprehended the responsibility that came with a driver’s license. One mistake meant someone could die. This grand epiphany shed a different perspective on sitting behind the wheel of an automobile, not one of fear, but rather a new respect for the position.

Currently, I have had my license for about two years. I have to wonder if driver’s training had not been a requirement, would I have chosen to take it? And, if I had not taken it, would I have had that grand epiphany? Would I have gotten a speeding citation by now? Would I have caused an accident? While I will never know the answers to these questions, research reveals the likelihood of an accident would be higher had I not taken the course. According to a recent article published by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, “A team of researchers led by the Center for Injury Research and Prevention (CIRP) at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) found that new drivers licensed before age 18 who are subject to mandatory driver education, including behind-the-wheel training and Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) restrictions, were less likely to crash than drivers licensed at age 18 who are exempt from these requirements (“Study Suggests Policy,” 2022). In addition, in her article, “Teen driving statistics and the most dangerous states for teen drivers,” Susan Meyer states, “Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death and disability among teens in the U.S.” (2023). With this information, I, along with all teen drivers, should seek out every opportunity to become a safer driver, whether required or not.

One of the best ways to improve upon something is to study the past. On their webpage, “Teen Driver Statistics,” Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia reports, “The overwhelming majority (75%) of serious teen driver crashes are due to “critical errors,” with the three common errors accounting for nearly half of these crashes: lack of scanning that is needed to detect and respond to hazards, going too fast for road conditions, and being distracted by something inside or outside of the vehicle.” And regarding speeding, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention notes that “35% of male drivers and 18% of female drivers (ages 15–20 years) who were involved in fatal crashes were speeding at the time of the crash in 2020” (“Teen Drivers and Passengers”). Becoming a safer and better driver goes much further than a training course. It is a continuous effort each and every time I slip into the driver’s seat to be alert to my surroundings and know what is on all sides of me at all times. Being alert to my surroundings means eliminating anything that could be a distraction, such as placing my phone out of sight and out of mind. Finally, it is critical to maintain a speed that not only is within the speed limit but also adheres to whatever driving condition may be present. If heavy rain or dense fog is present, the posted limit is going to be in excess of the speed I actually should be traveling.

In conclusion, getting a driver’s license is not a rite of passage. Driving is a privilege that comes with the highest accountability and a proactive commitment to the safety of not only myself but also all those around me.