I Hit a Sign: Then it Hit Me

Sinead Mooney

Drivers ed Initiative Award Essay

21 May 2020

I Hit a Sign: Then it Hit Me

When I first got my permit, I made a vow to myself. No phone, two hands on the wheel, no music if you need to focus, and no friends distracting friends. I’d seen firsthand how reckless some of my classmates were on the road, and I wasn’t going to follow their path. I would be careful and alert, because I wasn’t dumb enough to mess up this freedom. And for the first year with my permit, safety was easy. It was just me and my mom in the car, and she wasn’t about to let me get careless. The same went for when I received my license. I was finally able to drive wherever I wanted, all on my own. So why would I mess that up? Unfortunately, like many other drivers over time, I lost that mindset. As the months passed, I began pulling out my phone for directions when I was already on the road. I’d pile my friends into my car and we’d drive off, blasting music as we went. I became comfortable driving where I had a million times before, and I stopped being mindful. That’s where I really messed up. One night, I was driving downtown to meet my mom for a play. Focusing more on my music than I was on the street signs, I took a right onto one of the main streets. At that moment, my blood went cold. Right in front of me were several lanes of cars, all going too fast for comfort right towards me. I had driven onto a one way. The wrong way. Months of planning, practicing, and learning hadn’t prepared me for this. I was alone, and I had no idea what to do. Panicking, I reversed into the lane I was in before. Except for this time I wasn’t quite on mark, and instead of returning safely to the street, I crashed into a sign. I sat there for what felt like days, though it was probably only a few minutes. Then I took a deep breath, and drove into a parking lot where I could collect my thoughts. I was lucky that day. I didn’t hurt myself or anyone else, and the damage done was minimal. But the damage to my attitude was forever changed. I knew how complicated downtown Portland was. I knew there were a lot of one ways. And yet, in that moment, I forgot. That is why to me, being mindful is the number one thing people can do to be a responsible driver. It doesn’t matter how well you know the area-things could have changed. And those changes, if you don’t pay attention to them, could result in more than just a broken sign. A life could be lost. And after that price has been paid, there are no do-overs. So let’s get it right the first time, and be safe.