Safe Driver, Safe Rider

I
never saw the car coming. I only saw the horrified expression on the
driver’s face a split second before impact. I was lucky. I walked
away from the accident with a concussion, a neck injury, and
required six weeks of physical therapy for my soft tissue injuries.
If I had not been wearing a seat belt, I would not be graduating,
attending college, or applying for this scholarship. If I had not
been wearing my seat belt, I would be dead. This may sound dramatic,
but that’s the cold, hard truth of being in a severe motor vehicle
accident.

I
thought that I had taken my drivers ed classes seriously. I
followed the rules of the road. I did not speed, always wore my seat
belt and ensured that my passengers wore theirs. When I was behind
the wheel of the car, I did not text, talk on my phone, allow more
passengers than the law allowed, or listen to loud distracting music.
But that day I was not driving. I was a passenger and felt that it
was not my responsibility to set the rules for the car. My attitude
has now changed. If I am a passenger, I now feel empowered to speak
up and enforce the laws that govern safe driving. As a passenger, I
will not ride in a car where safety doesn’t come first.

My
drivers ed class taught me all of the rules and laws I needed
to know to be a safe driver, but I’m not sure that it emphasized
how to be a safe passenger. It is easy to abide by the rules when you
are in control. It is much harder to speak up when the driver is
taking shortcuts and risks.

I
genuinely feel that part of the drivers ed course should
include how to respectfully address issues with a driver when one is
a passenger. When I address the driver, I always take responsibility
for my feelings and requests. I start my request with “I”. “ I
feel uncomfortable when you text while driving. Can I do that for
you, please?” “I was in a bad car accident when the radio was
blaring and we didn’t hear the car honk at us. Can we please turn
the radio down?” “ I feel uncomfortable with you driving after
having two drinks. I will drive or call an Uber.”

If
I was required to restructure drivers ed class, I would include
a safe passenger initiative. Most people feel that it is not their
place to speak up. Speaking up is hard to do if you have not received
instruction and learned the importance of the passenger’s
responsibility. After my experience, I now realize that it is my
responsibility to ride safely as much as it is my responsibility to
drive safely.