The Smallest Distraction

Driver education is critical to making drivers aware of the rules of the road and confirming that we are all driving from the same or similar set of rules. Driving on our roads is a privilege that many young and older people take for granted. It becomes rote. Driver education not only teaches us the rules of the road, but skills to navigate those roads. How to drive defensively and not be distracted. What to do if the unexpected occurs. but the responsibility we have every time we get behind the wheel. A car is a machine as well as a tool. The average midsize car typically has 200 horsepower, a measurement used to calculate how quickly the force is produced from a vehicle’s engine and weighs approximately 4,000 pounds. The speed of a car directly impacts the damage it is likely to do. A person hit by a car traveling at 35 miles per hour is five times more likely to die than a person hit by a car traveling at 20 miles per hour. Understanding, through comprehensive driving education, the tool you are operating and how quickly it can become a weapon is key to reducing the number of deaths because of driving.

In addition, as unpopular as it would be, requiring or promoting incentives for licensed drivers to get continuing education credit would remind drivers of the rules and the need for safe driving. As young drivers become more experienced it is easy to forget the power of the vehicle you operate every day and the damage it can do to a person and property.

In July 2024, at the age of 17, just two months after earning my driver’s license, I experienced my first car accident. It was my fault. Although there were no injuries, my mother’s car was totaled. It was a humbling experience that taught me an important lesson about the critical role of focus and awareness while driving. It highlighted how minor lapses in judgment can lead to serious consequences.

The accident occurred at a traffic light. There were two lanes heading north. Left lane went straight or you could make a left turn, and cars in the right lane could go straight or turn right. I was waiting in the left lane, anticipating a left turn once the light turned green. As the light took longer than expected, I grew impatient and distracted. I turned my steering wheel slightly left in preparation for the turn and glanced at my phone to check the Waze navigation app. The app updated my route, indicating that I needed to proceed straight instead of turning left. When the light turned green, I began to accelerate but failed to adjust my car’s position. Since my steering wheel was still angled slightly left, my car veered in that direction. In my moment of inattention, I collided with an oncoming car traveling straight through the intersection. The crash left my car’s right side and the other car’s left side damaged.

I felt a mix of embarrassment, frustration, and regret. Several factors contributed to the accident, all of which boiled down to my distraction and lack of focus. Checking driving and traffic apps while waiting at the light, I diverted my attention from my surroundings to the screen, causing me to forget how my car was positioned. Technology, though useful, had become a distraction that interfered with my ability to make sound, real-time decisions on the road. The delay allowed my mind to wander, and I stopped being as vigilant as I should have been. Driving requires continuous awareness, even in seemingly routine moments, a reality I had underestimated as a new driver.

This accident, while not life-threatening, had a significant emotional impact. It forced me to confront my own vulnerability and the responsibilities that come with being behind the wheel. I realized that driving involves more than just operating a vehicle—it requires constant attention, mindfulness, and an understanding of how every action can have consequences. Small mistakes, like failing to straighten the wheel or glancing at a phone, can escalate quickly.

Since the accident, I have made deliberate efforts to become a better and safer driver. I’ve stopped checking my phone while driving, even at stops, and I now double-check the alignment of my steering wheel and the positioning of my car before moving. I use navigation apps more cautiously, treating them as supplemental tools rather than replacements for my judgment. These changes have not only improved my driving skills but also increased my confidence behind the wheel.

The experience has also taught me the importance of staying aware of other drivers and anticipating potential risks. Instead of reacting to situations as they arise, I now strive to predict possible hazards. This heightened awareness has made me more proactive and defensive in my driving approach, reducing the likelihood of future mistakes.

My car accident was a transformative experience and in a weird way has improved my driving skills and made me a more proactive and defensive driver. Driving is a skill that requires not just technical proficiency but also mental engagement and accountability. As a new driver, it is difficult to anticipate other drivers and unforeseen actions. Distractions, no matter how minor, can have significant repercussions, and even the most routine moments on the road demand full attention. While the accident was a difficult setback, the lessons I learned have shaped me into a more mindful and responsible driver, and they will continue to guide me for the rest of my life.