In the Driver’s Seat

January 12, 2023 is a day I will never forget, not because it was less than a year ago, but because it was the day I got in my accident and my perspective on driving and the importance of driver education and safety became a reality to me. When I first took driver’s education and began driving, I thought I knew it all – like most teenagers do. I half-heartedly paid attention to the lessons because I thought, “I’ll figure it out as I go”. I didn’t realize that taking a driver’s education course was more than just passing a test and getting a license, it was to prepare me to become a responsible and capable driver. I didn’t realize that every time I put my car in drive, I’m essentially behind the wheel of a proverbial weapon. That was something I learned on January 12^th.

I was leaving for school, and my mother and I had been in a small argument. I was tired and cranky and completely annoyed. My mother usually never let me leave the house angry, because she said it wasn’t safe to drive when I was sad or upset. But on January 12^th, I was late for school, and she was making me mad, so I left. It was dark and drizzly out and I was crying, completely focused on everything except the road. The next thing I knew, the front of my brand-new car was a crumbled-up mess under the rear bumper of an SUV. Every sensor in my car was blinking and dinging. By the grace of God, I was minorly injured, and the woman I rear-ended was not injured. I sprained my shoulder, and my hips were severely bruised on both sides. It certainly could have been a lot worse. After 3 months and thousands of dollars in car repairs, I was able to drive my car again. I was ticketed and I had to take a defensive driving course.

During the driving course, which was an online course, I paid attention to the instructor, and I learned statistics about driver fatalities, safety, and distracted driving. I learned things that I skipped over when I first took driver’s education. Inexperienced drivers have a higher risk of accidents. While I had a lot of practice driving with my learner’s permit and I took a driver’s ed course online, I was certainly not as prepared to drive as I thought I was. If I paid attention to my driver’s ed course, I might have had the knowledge and practical skills I needed to teach me defensive driving techniques that could have helped me the morning of January 12^th.

When a person takes driver’s education, they are able to better realize the importance of situational awareness and how to be more attentive to their surroundings and anticipate the actions of others on the road. The morning of my accident, I was distracted by my music, my emotions, and that I was tardy for school. Distracted driving is not just caused by texting or taking a phone call; in fact, a driver can be distracted by something as simple as daydreaming or singing to the radio.

I am a car and motorcycle enthusiast. I have many friends who drive recklessly. Sadly, I have lost friends due to reckless driving, especially in my circle of motorcycle friends. This past September, a friend of mine was driving home from a gathering we were at. She was ‘lane splitting’ on the highway when she lost control of her motorcycle and ran into a truck. She died on impact. This summer an acquaintance of mine was speeding on the interstate and weaving in and out of traffic when he clipped a car and rolled his vehicle several times before hitting a concrete barrier. He was in the ICU for weeks.

Taking driver’s education is an essential part of driver safety and preparing individuals for every situation they may face when on the road. I will forever regret thinking I was invincible. Because of my accident, my insurance went up; this has caused a huge financial burden on my mom, who already struggles with making ends meet as a single mom. However, because of my accident, I had to take a defensive driving course that taught me critical tools for driver safety. I am also so much more aware of my surroundings, I don’t drive when I’m tired or frustrated, I leave more space between myself and other cars, and I am more patient with other drivers.

When I get into my car, it’s not just my life that I take into my hands when I’m driving, it’s every person on the road. I have a huge responsibility every time I put my car in drive. My accident on January 12^th was an awful event, but it was also a blessing because it forced me to take driver’s education and driving seriously. I make sure that I share my story with my friends, in hopes of helping them to be safer on the roads and to appreciate that we take other’s lives into our hands every time we are on the road.