The Privilege to Drive

Hearing about car accidents has become too common today but, much to my surprise, close calls within my family are just as frequent. It seems like every other day when I’m on the phone with my relatives, I hear a comment about other drivers pulling out in front of them, driving close behind them, or other minor occurrences. However, these minor occurrences can and have morphed into disaster. A careless driver rear ended my mom on a snowy day. A careless driver almost t-boned my older brother after they ran the stop sign. A careless driver nearly collided with my dad, forcing him to make a high speed, 90-degree maneuver. Instead of checking to see if my dad was okay, the driver sped off. Listening to their experiences and seeing for myself how reckless many drivers are, it’s time to have an in-depth conversation about people taking advantage of their privilege to drive and how to make driving safer overall.

Thousands of people die in car accidents every year for a variety of reasons, one being the lack of proper driving education and etiquette. Before anyone can sit behind the wheel of a car, they must go through a series of tests—written and practical. Studying the DMV handbook is not only to pass a test. It’s to assess understanding of the many rules and regulations of operating heavy machinery in public spaces. The driving portion is not only a means of receiving a license to show off to loved ones. It’s an assessment of knowledge retention and a promise to operate vehicles within the boundaries of the law. But many drivers often view these tests as a one-off thing, that there is nothing left to learn after getting their licenses or after so many years have passed. It’s this arrogance that leaves room for fatal errors and this arrogance that must be nipped in the bud. Knowledge is rarely, if ever, a one and done deal. It takes continuous effort and practice to maintain information enough to become second nature. Drivers should be expected to refresh themselves with the rules of the road and remain aware of the consequences for not doing so.

I am grateful to have not been in a car accident, though I don’t claim myself or my relatives to be perfect drivers. There are certain habits that materialize while we’re driving that range from checking our phones to texting. From an early age, I was taught to never text and drive which I have abided by since getting my license. I can still recall watching various cable tv commercials stating that it only takes a few seconds of inactivity to cause an accident. I know this to be true from a personal standpoint. Cars travel quite a distance in a short time. One common instance for me is when I want to switch to a different song in my playlist. I take my eyes off the road for a few seconds and when I look up, there are cars closer to me. There is also the matter of the hand left on the wheel moving in or opposite of the direction I’m looking. Using one hand to control over a ton of metal is not ideal initially. But to use one hand while occupying the other with my phone is an accident waiting to happen. Often, I start drifting towards the shoulder of the road. Then I assume a makeshift balancing act of scanning for other vehicles before returning to my search for the perfect song. My relative does a similar song and dance with texting. When they get a text, they reduce their control of the car by using one hand and their attention is split unevenly. They occasionally swerve in their lane and miss what could be vital signs from other drivers. In both instances, we couldn’t fully process what we were seeing on the road until we returned our full attention. We are aware of the wrongness of it, yet habits are hard to break unless we catch ourselves and work on correcting our behavior.

I still have ways to go before I can consider myself a safe driver. What I can do now is have my playlist set the way I want before leaving my home. I waste too much time focused on something trivial. I would also have an easier, safer time if I just used Siri more often. In the off chance that an emergency arises, I will pull over as that adds another layer of distraction as well as stress. If I see my loved ones driving while distracted, I’ll offer to drive instead. If that’s not possible, I’ll be their eyes and ears for the time they are inactive. I have previously made the mistake of scrolling on my phone while my relative drove while texting. The next thing I knew, we were driving over the rumble strips and in the rocks off the road. Safe driving starts with the driver and extends to the passengers as more awareness of your surroundings greatly reduces the risk for an accident.

Driving is a privilege that can be taken away at any point. A delicate balance is needed to keep it and to ensure the safety of oneself and others. As such, all drivers must refresh themselves with road safety as mastery requires practice and years of neglect yields forgetfulness. Unfortunately, some drivers won’t heed advice or warnings, so it becomes a personal responsibility for others to drive defensively. Despite this, driver education must be taught and the consequences from those who don’t have it repeatedly mentioned. Lives have been lost and remain on the line. No one wants their loved one to be reduced to a tragic statistic. So spread the word and drive safe.