Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road?

Why did the chicken cross the road? That’s a great question and one that will forever remind me of my high school driver’s education class. This was one of the most valuable courses I have taken in high school. It not only made me a better driver but it also may have saved my life. Let me explain.

Last summer, about a month after I got my license, I got into a car accident. I was on my way to Cross Country practice early one morning. Like many newly licensed drivers, I felt invincible. The feeling of driving alone after so many months of non-stop supervision was almost intoxicating. It was pure freedom. I let this feeling distract me from what should have been my main focus- the road! I was driving on a curvy back road, the kind with a lot of long lazy turns. It was over in flash, brakes screeching, saplings cracking, and dirt flying in the air. I had overestimated both the bend ahead and my speed. I had just flown off the road, trampled saplings, tore up grass, and finally stopped inches from a house. I have never been so scared in my life.

This experience taught me some valuable lessons. The first being, I am not invincible. The second lesson was that a moment of distraction is the only catalyst needed for a car accident to occur. With the freedom of driving solo comes the responsibility of being fully present and constantly aware of my surroundings. Thankfully, my accident only resulted in damage to my car, some landscaping (that I went back the next day to fix), and my pride. After this incident, I was hesitant to drive and had stopped driving to practice altogether. A fresh fear had taken over and I wasn’t sure I wanted all that freedom after all.

In the fall I took our school’s driver’s education class. It was a semester-long course that involved both simulation and real-drive time. This course taught me so much and honestly, made me a far better, safer, and conscientious driver. I think every new driver should be required to take this class. The hands-on, real-life methodology really makes an impact. This would be another layer in reducing driving deaths and accidents. This class taught me what reading in a manual couldn’t. We discussed road safety in real-time. We looked around the environment each day and discussed all the accident possibilities and more importantly, how to avoid having those accidents. It slowly helped me to regain confidence behind the wheel but I was changed. I wasn’t the same driver from a few months earlier.

A key points that I learned from driver’s education were that you should always drive rested. When you’re tired your response time slows. The chances of getting into an accident can double. I also learned that a lot of accidents are caused by bad driving habits such as speeding, disobeying traffic control devices, and driving under the influence. All of these can be avoided by making better choices before and while you are behind the wheel. You need to know the roads and know yourself.

Since taking this course, I have discussed driving safety more openly with my family and friends. I notice more about my surroundings and drive with care. Having a safe driving mind-set also turns you into observer of all the bad driving habits on the road around you. This awareness teaches you how important it is to drive defensively so you can avoid hazards before they happen.

That brings me to the chicken jokes. On one of the side roads near my school there is a family that owns free-range chickens. We would often encounter some of this flock on our drive times which would spark some interesting banter in the car. My teacher would frequently tell us “Why did the chicken cross the road” jokes to help us relax but also to spark a discussion about driving situations/safety. What if that chicken was a child? What if the car was the chicken and you needed to cross two lanes of traffic. The chicken analogies were endless, witty, wonderful, and valuable. I listen intently for each punchline and lesson our chicken friend learned.

These lessons and information will stay with me long after high school because an oblivious chicken can never reach his goal of getting across the road. If knowledge is power then knowledge obtained in real-world situations is the key to unlocking that power.

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