To the New Age Drivers

For many students and young adults who are legally allowed to drive a vehicle, the pride of operating a car and navigating the world on their own is temptingly powerful. Indeed, driving is a daily necessity that people utilize without much thought, however, it is a well earned privilege that is taken for granted. In my own family, multiple car accidents have incurred car totals, bodily trauma, and even unprecedented fatalities. Yes, driving may be liberating, but it can be incredibly fatal when incorrect methods are practiced. Here is my experience as a young driver.

In the fall of 2018, I enrolled into a three hour course to obtain my driver’s permit. Anxious and rather weary toward driving, I sat close to the classroom exit and distanced myself from my peers, gripping tightly to the driver’s permit handbook, a personal notebook for note taking, highlighters, and other study tools. Although I had really no engagement with my peers, I found myself gaining interest in defense driving mechanisms and the perspectives of different types of road vehicles. Of the abundant information shared with me that day, the most valuable lessons learned were related to (1) gauging distances between myself and semi-trucks; (2) understanding what positions of the vehicle is visible or invisible to surrounding drivers; (3) and lastly, maintaining constant awareness of my surroundings through mirrors, side doors, and lights. Having this simple yet powerful knowledge, and actually putting them to practice while on the road has made me grow exponentially into a safe driver. It also helps that my dad, who has a CDL license among many other driving credentials, constantly provides insight as to how to maintain good driving habits.

If I were to implement regulations that encourage safe driving and reduce the amount of deaths related to driving, I would first implore all drivers, those with experience and without, to attend driving courses much like the one I attended for my driver’s permit. At first glance, people often misinterpret driving for a simple task when in truth, it requires incredible multitasking and extreme awareness. People should be aware of the necessary distances required between vehicles, the visibility between vehicles large and small, as well as pedestrian awareness (whether they are on the sidewalk or unsafely on the road). Secondly, I would encourage that driving tests be taken once more for every driver’s license renewal (ideally required for every decade, and a more intricate test). This process may seem tedious, but it is no doubt that with more experience, the safety precautions and driving awareness wanes. If the test is treated as an incentive toward renewing one’s license, I think this would be valuable not only for the driver but also for those who share the road with the driver. As for my final suggestion that I hope would reduce driving related casualties, I would encourage more accessibility toward defensive driving courses. With gas prices rising among other expenses, it would be much more convenient to have current and new drivers learn defensive mechanisms with trained professionals, much like my dad. Knowing these skills and implementing them on the road would reawaken safe driving habits within drivers, and hopefully will instill a newfound consideration for others while on the road.

Such implications might be new steps toward creating a safer driving environment in our community, however unsafe driving and reckless drivers are unavoidable challenges we have to be prepared to navigate around. To provide some insight on behalf of my dad, here are a few valuable driving tips that I have learned during my time driving:

1. All semi-trucks or other large vehicles require at least 50 feet to 100 feet distance. This amount of leverage is necessary for your safety. If a small car slams on their brakes with an 80,000 pound vehicle behind them, this distance acts as a safety barrier in preparation for sudden stops.

2. Semi-trucks have larger blind spots. If you cannot see the side mirrors of the large vehicles, that means you are invisible to the truck driver. If you are on the side of the truck, either speed up to pass, maintain speed where you match the front of the truck, or slow down to stay out of their blind spot.

3. Do not stay diagonal to a car in another lane. Although difficult to maneuver, if you have enough space to either pass the car, slow down to avoid their blind spot, or stay side by side, please do so.

4. When semi-trucks are turning, do not take the inner lane. Consider this: such vehicles have additional 50 feet to operate, meaning wide turns are required. This also calls for using two lanes to make tight turns. So, do not try to squeeze through while a truck is making a turn. Again, this 80,000 pound vehicle cannot stop at the speed you can.

5. Avoid aggressive drivers. If they tailgate you, let them move around you (unless you are in the speeding or left lane when you should be in the right lane). If a car is recklessly weaving through lanes, leave a distance as if you would with a semi-truck. Do not engage with road raging drivers.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope that with these few tips, we new and returning drivers can implement better driving habits and establish a safer driving environment for everyone, not just for ourselves. Remember, driving is a collaborative practice that includes the lives of many, not just our own. Let us move forward with these good habits in mind!