Where Did You Learn to Drive?

Driver education is absolutely critical in reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving. Courses in basic road safety and knowledge helps us all to avoid collisions and accidents. They teach us how to follow at safe distances so there’s time to break, how to read road signs that might que us to change how we’re driving, using turn signals so that everybody is prepared for a turn, what to do at train tracks, how to drive manual transmission cars. All of these examples help us to get from point A to point B safely. Yet, everyday there are millions of people who don’t demonstrate safe driving, which most of us can escape unscathed, but for some, the consequences are more severe.

One memory that I have from my experience in high school was the drunk/distracted driving seminar held during my senior year. Real testimonies from those that survived or lost someone from drunk/distracted driving brought me to tears throughout the entirety of the program. Real pictures of wreck scenes, photos of those lost, photos of the damage done along with the words from those impacted wrecked me. I remember some of my classmates laughing, wondering how I could be so emotional after it was all done. I couldn’t believe that they couldn’t see the message, how were they not emotional? I understand now that I’m a bit older that everyone handles their emotions differently, but I also realized that a good number of the kids I graduated with didn’t receive that message.

I, myself, have experienced family members and friends using their phone at the wheel, multitasking, and other bad habits frequently. Thankfully, I’ve never experienced a serious accident. When I’m in the car with someone who is trying to use their phone for any reason, I immediately try to take over so that they can focus on driving or tell them to put it down. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t. I try not to tolerate unsafe habits but it happens daily, and it happens with a lot of people. Driving down the road, I’m sure you could spot many people with one hand on the wheel and one hand holding their phone. It happens every day, but with more knowledge and exposure, we can all be a little bit safer.

Although I haven’t had much exposure to car accidents, my little brother does. I remember walking from class one day and getting a call from my mom. She told me that my brother’s friend was in a serious accident near our old neighborhood. She said that the driver had died. Thankfully, my brother wasn’t in that car that day, but he was present at the graduation ceremony that the driver was supposed to attend. He walked across the stage that the driver was supposed to walk across. He sat only two rows down from the driver’s little sister, sat next to an empty white chair with the driver’s picture and his graduation cap. His name was read to the stadium and it went absolutely quiet, aside from a few sniffles. The driver of that car missed this milestone because he was driving under the influence of drugs. He sped down a steep hill and lost control, all without a seatbelt on. Apparently there was a video of the ordeal, one of the boys was videoing the “stunt” from the side of the road. I couldn’t fathom that family’s loss, nor could I imagine the impact of being a part of that crash. It could have all been prevented. The impact of car accidents is unimaginable, especially if it comes with death. So many accidents can be avoided if we take more action to reduce these numbers, to promote road safety, and put more laws in place.

One safety tip that I try to keep in mind every time I get behind the wheel, and something I hope everyone keeps in mind is to stay vigilant. Watch and take note of road signs, give plenty of space to the vehicle in front of you in case of emergencies, and to take caution around vehicles with turn signals on or hazard lights on. It’s too easy to “zone out” when we drive the routes we take frequently, to get comfortable with the roads you drive and the turns you take. No matter the day, anything can be on the road, from a distracted driver going over the yellow lines to a deer taking a leisurely stroll. There was one time in my life where I saw an impaired driver almost hit multiple cars on the highway. I was terrified, but I knew that this driver should not be on the road as they got closer to hitting guardrails and going off of the road. Thankfully I had a friend in the passenger seat who could call 911 and officers were able to stop the driver. Although I did feel remorse for calling the police on someone, I also felt grateful that they were there to stop this driver and keep them from hurting themselves or someone else.

Something I’m sure we all think when we see some of these drivers is, “where did you learn to drive?”. Everyone would be much safer if we took the courses, applied what we learned, and stayed vigilant on the road. It’s my belief that if every person who was pulled over for reckless driving or who was ticketed for minor traffic violations would attend a road safety course, we may all be a little bit safer. This could apply as well for those who cause a wreck or other damage. Another consideration would be driver’s license renewal, where every few years the driver takes a road safety and driving course. This way, we all can receive helpful reminders of how to drive safely, and what can happen if we don’t.