The Superheroes of the Road

So, let me spill the beans about this whole driver’s education thing and why it’s not just some boring stuff that your parents and lawmakers make you do before you start driving. After being an active driver for a few years and now soon to enter college, you start realizing that driving isn’t just about getting back and forth to school, driving to Sonic, and hanging out with friends, it’s much, much more. it’s about staying alive and keeping others safe. So, buckle up and let me tell you more!

First off, drivers’ education is a critical component to staying safe on the road and includes the nuts and bolts of traffic laws, the rules of the road and safe driving practices. It is the handbook to being a superhero on the road. It’s not just about nailing the driving test; it’s about knowing how this applies to real life. For example, in driver’s education, speed is an important topic. But speed isn’t just a number; it’s a factor in how fast you will make it home, how much time you need in order to make a complete stop, but also whether you will make it home in one piece.

Now, reducing deaths on the roads isn’t just about passing your driving test; it’s a worldwide effort that every driver needs to prioritize. Law enforcement needs to do their role of catching those at high risk. And drivers need to understand that while law enforcement officers can be thought of as “the boys in blue, “the “cops” or even the “Po Po,” drivers need to realize that law enforcement officers aren’t our enemies.

All right, let me take this essay home by telling you my personal life story about driving. Picture this: me, riding shotgun with my sister, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who was in a rush to get us home from a college football game so she could be in time to meet up with her friends later that evening. She began to act impulsively and suddenly we’re in some race scene from a video game, hitting 100 miles per hour, whipping around sharp bends, and swerving around cars going slower than her on rural Wyoming roads. With the musician Drake blasting and blaring on her phone, I was scared out of my wits and not sure whether to laugh, scream or cry. And then we see a big white truck and then we heard policy sirens and saw flashing lights behind us. After my sister received a hefty ticket, we continued our drive home but at a much more controlled speed. That hefty fine was a wakeup call to her to slow down and not put herself and others at risk.

Now, self-reflection time. Being a better driver isn’t just about avoiding potholes and nailing parallel parking. It’s about owning up to the fact that each time you hit the road, you’re putting your life and others on the line. We have a responsibility to do the best we can to help ourselves and others be safe. So, now I’m all about checking myself and reminding others about observing traffic rules and taking a defensive driving course if needed. It’s just part of adulting. But here’s the kicker – it’s about understanding that everyone’s got their own road struggles and helping others understand what might be contributing to these.

But hey, it’s not just about me, me, me. It’s about spreading the wisdom. Whether it’s sharing my near-death experience while riding with my sister or organizing some laid-back awareness campaigns, it’s about sharing with others about the importance of responsible driving. Because at 18, I’m realizing it’s not just about my driving journey; it’s about making the road a safer hangout for everyone.

So, to wrap it up, driver’s education isn’t just a boring phrase; it contains the key for drivers to stay safe and keep others safe. Personal stories teach us that road education needs to be inclusive to share messages that resonate with all types of drivers. Being a better driver at 18 isn’t just a personal goal; it’s about becoming a road safety influencer. So, let’s rev up those engines and use the keys we’ve been provided with to stay focused on the roads, traffic signals and off our phones. We all want to have happy endings in our driving journeys so being responsible while driving, even while listening to Taylor Swift with all your friends in the car, you still need to pay close attention.