The Contract of the Road

I see the shiny glint of sunlight reflecting off of the pond below the field. Five deer nibble the lush grasses on its banks. Is it five bucks? Or is that big one a doe? They probably bed in those tall broom weeds along the tree line. Are there any fish in the small pond, or does it only hold water? I wonder if it keeps a steady water level, or if it’s only full with the rain from yesterday. That was a big rain, a soaking rain. The deer are moving along now away from me. Just as I suspected, they are strolling back toward the dark thicket. I remember my dad once told me that deer feel comfortable in the thicket. I look to the left. A handful of Bluebonnets and Indian’s Paintbrush are peeking out of a dirt patch in the median where a dove is scratching around. Wait. How long has that light been green?

I love to drive, but not because of where I get to, or how fast I can get there, but because of what I see along the way. When given two routes, I always opt for the more scenic one, to watch for wildlife and enjoy the countryside. Fortunately, the deer, dove, and I were the only ones on the road that day, because I was so distracted by taking in the sites that I wasn’t watching the road. I nearly missed a whole cycle of the traffic light watching the wildlife, and I’m sure if someone had been behind me, they would not have been very appreciative. I was not abiding by the mutual safety contract of drivers. Unfortunately, my distraction does not always wait for a light or a stop sign. Sometimes I find myself going very slow or veering toward the edge as I scan for turkeys or a coyote. Succumbing to such distraction can put myself and others in danger, but sometimes I feel I just can’t help myself. If I am to prevent this distracted behavior, I must find a way to keep my eyes on the road rather than the roadside attractions of nature. This will not be an easy challenge. Many people in my family appreciate wildlife like I do, but no one seems eager to eliminate this distracted driving issue. Based on my driver’s education course, I know how dangerous automobiles can be, as well as that distracted driving is a leading cause of accidents, especially among young drivers. I need to get this concern in check to eliminate a dangerous risk.

Driving is not a right, it’s a privilege. That was mentioned so many times in my driver’s education course that I don’t think I will ever forget it. More than just a legal issue, the privilege to drive is strongly rooted in safety. On an episode of Hogan’s Heroes, one of the Germans is expressing concern about sloppy discipline, and Colonel Hogan, hoping to diminish the seeming importance of the matter, replies, “Do you know how many people die in auto accidents every year?” This light-hearted crack, however, is no joke. Based on the number of driving related accidents, I am lucky to have never been in one. In order to keep this record, I need to take important steps to best ensure the safety of myself and my passengers while on the road. Because distracted driving is my first obstacle, I need to put a plan into place, with concrete steps to get me focused on the road.

My plan to conquer this starts today with step one: focusing on the destination. If I keep in mind where I am trying to go, I will be less occupied by the time-sucking frivolities of pastures and hills. Bearing in mind my destination, I will keep my mind on the route and my eyes on what’s ahead. On major roadways, I will keep to the middle lane when possible to avoid the allure of nature out my right eye. Step two will be to take the fast route. No more will I take the scenic route to school in hopes of spying a neighbor’s longhorns eating their breakfast. Rather, I will select the direct path with its most exciting feature being the sanitation center. If nothing else, the stink will make me want to move along, focusing my energies into going forward. Finally, I will find other times to admire wildlife. I can bird watch at home, ride my bike through the woods, and walk through the pasture to see a longhorn. This will help me keep my interest in observing natural wonders away from major roadways. I firmly believe that these steps to refocus my driving will help me to keep my eyes up and pay closer attention to critical driving tasks.

This plan should keep me locked into a safe driving mindset, but can’t stay safe alone. Everyone’s safety on the road depends on everyone’s driving. This is why standardized driver’s education is very important. When I roll out of the driveway, I trust that everyone else has the same knowledge and respect of driving law that I do. In fact, every time an individual takes a trip, they are entering into a social contract for the privilege of driving. Driver’s education helps the student understand what they are agreeing to, and the potential consequences of violation with respect to safety and legality. When I started taking driver’s education, I not only learned to drive legally and safely, but I also began to think more about being a safe and respectful passenger. Passenger safety tips like not being too loud or causing the driver distraction through worrying activities.

Technically, a person could learn the laws by reading them where they are found, but a driver’s education course allows the student to be more immersed in driving for maximum understanding and impact. Even some of the horror stories that scared me to death have stayed with me, reminding me that safety on the road is serious business. Continued expansion and standardization of driver’s education courses will not only leave lasting reminders in the minds of drivers, but it will ensure that everyone on the road is on board with the same contract for safety. As I hope to overcome my own distracted driving challenge, I hope that everyone I pass by is also putting safety in the driver’s seat.