The Learning Curve: What It Means to Drive Safely

There comes a point in time where we are forced to grow up, forced to get our first job, forced to start applying for colleges, forced to start paying bills, and above all forced to start driving. We’ve gone from saying “mom, can you take me to target” to “mom I’m going to target.” Driving as a teenager can be a scary thing and a big change. Since the first day I laid my hand on the steering wheel, my dad has never failed to remind me what it is like to be a safe driver. Driving it a lot more than just one foot on the peddle and two hands on the steering wheel. Driving is also about the lives put in our hands when we step foot in the driver’s seat. When driving, not only are we responsible for the lives inside our own car, but we are also responsible for the lives of others on the road. Everyday there is a car wreck. Whether it is in a different country, state, or county, accidents happen daily. I never once believed I would be involved in one of those accidents.

On October 2nd, 2023, me and my best friend, Braelee, experienced a life changing moment. We were on our way home from the mall, listening to music, as usual, when a red SUV t-boned us. Our light had just turned yellow, and there was no time to stop, so she decided to continue driving. The car to the left of us had a red light but was not able to stop in time. I looked to my left to make sure no one was approaching, but when I saw two lights heading closer and closer to the car, I realized we were going to get hit. At that point, I had no idea what to say or do. It was as if my body went into shock before the words “oh my god” came out of my mouth. The second I knew it, the car hit us, and our car began to spin, and the airbag had been triggered. I couldn’t grasp what had just happened; numerous thoughts were racing through my mind, I was struggling to regain my breath after the airbag knocked it out of me, and my body was immobile. I was in such astonishment that I couldn’t move. I began to smell gas which triggered my fight or flight. I checked to my left to make sure Braelee was okay, and we both ran out of the car to check on the others. When we made sure that everyone was okay, I began to burst into tears. I was still in shock of what just happened, and I feared what my parents might say, even though it wasn’t our fault. We were able to call the police and our parents. I can still remember the horror in my mom’s voice when I told her we just got into a wreck. This was the most terrifying moment of my life.

This incident could have ended in a completely different way because of someone else’s reckless decision. The person driving the other car was too busy looking at their phone which could have caused any of us to die. What happened to me is a great example as to why taking drivers education is highly important to preventing deadly accidents. In the state of South Carolina everyone under the age of 17 must take a drivers ed class, however I feel that everyone, no matter what age you are, should be required to take a drivers ed class. Drivers ed is important to take because it shows us the dangers that driving has and the dos and don’ts. A drivers ed class also allows you to practice with a licensed professional who knows more about driving than a parent or friend does. Everyone is learning how to drive, just because you are an adult doesn’t mean you are less likely to get into a wreck. Therefore, taking a driving class allows for drivers to be more educated about the dangers of driving and possibly reduce the number of deaths due to accidents.

Even though driving classes may reduce deaths in accidents, reckless driving isn’t the only thing that causes accidents. Accidents can also happen because of an unknown mechanical issue with the car. In the state of Virginia all cars must have an inspection once a year to make sure the car is safe to drive. A step that should be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving is implementing a yearly car inspection in every state. Without a yearly inspection of a car, many drivers may be subject to driving in unsafe conditions and may result in not only themselves getting hurt but also the people around them. Another step that can be taken is making everyone eligible for random retesting. Random retesting is for people who passed their driving test through a third party. I believe this is unfair and not right because everyone can lose their driving skills even if they took their driving test with the dmv. Making everyone eligible for random retesting allows for everyone to be more on top of their feet and makes sure that no one is safe from random retesting. To add on to the random retesting, the last step I believe should be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving is making everyone retest every other time their license expires. This ensures that everyone is at least retested once.

Just as the states should take steps to reduce the number of deaths related to driving, so should we. Humans surround themselves around technology on the daily. We are constantly using phones, laptops, and iPads for work and entertainment. We even use technology when driving. To ensure our own safety we should stop using our phones to change the music, text or call people back, and use maps. The step that I can take to be a better and safer driver is pay attention when driving. Sometimes when driving many of us zone out, including me. I can work on my attention span to ensure that I am keeping myself and others safe when driving.

In conclusion, my experience taught me many valuable lessons about driving and showed me what steps the state and ourselves can take to reduce the number of deaths relating to driving and to become safer and better drivers.