The Importance of Slowing Down

We live in a faced-paced society. Because of this, when we are behind the wheel of a car, we have a tendency to want to speed up and get to our destinations as quickly as possible. Not only do we physically feel the need to “race” to the finish line, but we also juggle thoughts while driving, causing a negative cycle of multitasking. Multitasking while driving reinforces the societal expectation for us to constantly be in motion when we need to slow down and focus on what is in front of us: in this instance, the road.

The steps I take to slow down and enjoy life are similar to steps I take to be a safer driver; all organized around my core values of self-awareness, patience, and respect for humanity. As a driver, I can ensure that before I get in the car, I am well organized–such as leaving enough time to comfortably get to my destination and being well rested–to be patient when I step foot in the car. I can be more prepared for the unexpected by keeping a safe distance between me and the car in front of me and driving within the speed limit to have a better chance of quickly reacting to unexpected situations. As a new driver, I am aware of the increased distractions cell phones have on drivers. I can prioritize calls and texts before driving and after I reach my destination, by pulling over to the side of the road if I need to make a call, and, if necessary, I can practice safe cell phone use with handsfree technology. At the end of the day, the text can wait. To be more aware of my surroundings I can constantly check my blind spots and mirrors, scan the area for pedestrians, and take note of other drivers. As a passenger, friend, and family member, I can encourage others to slow down on the road and emphasize that life itself is more important than answering a text or being late. This is where driver’s education is important to ensure that all drivers have a base level of knowledge about how to be a safe driver.

Driver’s education is an important foundation for new drivers to establish clarity about laws and road expectations. There are a variety of different road scenarios that are covered in driver’s education, like hazardous weather, reckless driving, and various hypothetical pedestrian encounters that help new drivers visualize what they would need to do in situations like these while on the road. While taking driver’s education, the most impactful aspect of my classes was watching videos of people who had lost loved ones due to road accidents. These videos emphasized the variety of ways collisions can occur and the devastating long-term effects of the collision. Most accidents stem from careless mistakes. Driver’s education helps to eliminate a “careless” mindset while driving.

Policy makers, law enforcement, and drivers regularly take steps to reduce the number of driving-related deaths, but we can all do more. The Graduated Licensing System (GDL) is an effective means of keeping new drivers safe while on the road with rules that progressively allow them more privileges. We might consider new technology that doesn’t allow a car to start unless they have fastened their seatbelt. We can add more speed cameras to heavily populated intersections. Regular public service campaigns (billboards, advertisements, etc) can help spread awareness and remind people of the potential fatalities of speeding. We all have to be aware and care.

When I was in 3rd grade, my mother, aunt, younger sister, and younger brother got into a car accident, but I didn’t quite understand what had happened at the time. When my dad picked me up from school, he rushed me into the car with a worried expression on his face. “Is everything okay?” I asked, and he replied by informing me that “the car had gotten into an accident” and that we were on our way to the hospital. Because cars can’t drive themselves, I would later come to realize why this sentence was passive. At 8-years-old, I thought we were going to a hospital for cars–like an auto repair shop–hoping that it was just the car that had been “injured.” But as we pulled into the hospital parking lot, it occurred to me that my family had been injured as well. As we rode the elevator up to the pediatric ward, I felt a pit in my stomach, unsure of how detrimental the collision was on my younger siblings. My heart was pounding so hard I could hear it as we walked into the room, subtle beeping noises parading around my eardrums. The faint smell of antiseptic and cleaning supplies made me nauseous. Seeing my sister in the bed with a large gash on her shin, and my brother with a few cuts allowed me to put things into perspective. It could have been worse. But why did I still feel so scared? They looked forlorn in the hospital bed the two of them were sharing, their eyes telling me that they were worn out and tired. “Are you all alright?” I asked, and though they said they were fine, my sister’s open gash challenged me to a staring contest. Cars can cause this much damage? My mother was injured the most out of my family members, requiring stitches in her knee from broken glass. After speaking with her post-accident, I discovered that she had gotten into this collision because she was rushing. She was distracted on the way to a school meeting, and accidentally ran a red light. A car crashed into the side of my mom’s minivan with such force that it flipped completely upside down. This triggered the airbags to be deployed, and my family members were trapped in the vehicle. Soon after, a bystander busted one of the windows and helped them crawl free. My family was lucky because there were only minor injuries, but this situation could have gone differently if they weren’t wearing their seatbelts. Although my mother didn’t want to be late, it would have been beneficial for her to take extra safety measures and slow down.

As I’ve gotten older, I observe the daily occurrences of reckless drivers. Because everyone has impulsive tendencies, we lose sight of the dangers of multitasking and speeding our way through life. Everything in society is seen as a race, but drivers can not fall victim to this toxic cycle of needing to be the fastest. Instead, as drivers we need to prioritize safety not speed. Once we start slowing down while driving, rates of car related accidents will rampantly decrease. No one is a perfect driver, so it’s important to be vigilant on the road, drive defensively, and slow down to avoid possibly fatal mishaps.