What the Real Cost Is

What the Real Cost Is

Do you realize that more people have died on US Highways than the culmination of all wars fought by the US? That is why being taught to drive is essential before you get behind the wheel. Driving is a privilege that requires more than an understanding of car controls; before being allowed to drive it is imperative that you understand the dangers of the road as well as how to deal with these situations. Thanks to the DMV, you are not sharing the roads with those who do not complete their test.

The teaching of future drivers filters out the many first-time drivers who are eager and reckless in their pursuit of being independent. Passing your driver’s test is not the only requirement to drive, you also must practice safe driving skills. An example would be not driving under the influence of anything that can impair your judgment or slow down your reaction time. Even sleepiness is a detriment to your driving skill and should be thought of before getting behind the wheel.

It is not always the young and inexperienced who cause auto accidents. Many older experienced drivers I have witnessed have let their knowledge of a road or highway lead to making mistakes while driving, whether it be swerving too close toward the other lane or hitting a deer that is crossing a long familiar backroad. While not always fatal they very well could be next time.

The issue of distracted driving is one I am used to fighting against and avoiding doing at all costs. What consequences are there to a single glance at your cell phone? Or to flick a cigarette butt out the window? Maybe search for the BigMac you ordered in the drive-through? The answer is simple; your complete disregard for safety can cost someone their life. In a split second that “harmless” indulgence has changed many people’s lives, including your own. This does not happen every time someone looks away from the road, therefore giving people a false sense of security. “It would never happen to me,” they think to themselves, till it does. Not letting distractions pull your focus off the road is the choice you must make when driving to ensure you are doing everything in your power to keep yourself and others safe. A vehicle can be a very deadly weapon when you do not resume the responsibility of a machine that weighs thousands of pounds and careens down the asphalt at many miles per hour with ease. A car is not just a means of getting to places, it is a responsibility.

Another issue I am familiar with is driving in harsh weather conditions. I live in Michigan, where we experience snow, rain, and flooding every year, so being vigilant can save your life. In snowy conditions, it is important that you uncover your mirrors, windows, license plates, and signal lights before trying to drive. Snow is not the only danger of winter driving, there is also ice on the roads including black ice that is almost undetectable till you are on it. This is why driving much slower is crucial even with four-wheel drive. Hills or bridges are especially tricky when traversing during the winter and should be taken slowly on the descent to avoid speeding or sliding. Fresh snowfall is dangerous and can lead to your car being stuck without proper traction. When snow is currently falling there is a chance of whiteout conditions. Whiteout conditions are where the snowfall is so dense that you cannot see much more than the front of your car and some feet in front of it. The best times to drive are when the plows have gone through. Rainy weather can lead to slippery roads and vision-impairing conditions. The rubber of your tires can slip on the rain that has mixed with other emissions from cars, such as oil, and cause your car to be unsteady on turns or other maneuvers of the vehicle. The best thing to do while it is heavily raining is to drive slower and be aware your vision is not the best in rainy weather, so take more precautions. Lastly, there are the flooded roads that may appear to be a big puddle. I have experienced what it is like to almost fully immerse your car in a mud puddle you thought was traversable. If it were not for a huge stone at the bottom of a flooded-out road, I would have drowned with my family many years ago. If it is at all possible to avoid a flooded road and take an alternate route, do so. If there is water covering a road and you are not sure how deep it is, do not proceed across said road.

Driving is a privilege and a dangerous one at that, so if you take anything from my essay it is that. Drive safely, everyone else on the road is counting on you.

-Leah Boerigter