It Is Time We Look at Driving Holistically

Many see driving education as a chore, things should just come straight forward but that in itself couldn’t be farther from the truth. There are some situations when driving where maneuvering the car the right way could mean life or death. When there is turbulent weather it is important to know how to use your car correctly to avoid a situation where death is a risk. This isn’t commonly known knowledge without driving education. Driving education also gives a great preface to knowing when you should and shouldn’t drive. I know for myself, I was unaware that being emotional means I should probably rethink my decision to drive and that has stuck with me. What may seem like a useless course to take may actually come with the knowledge needed to prevent a fatality behind the road. While it may seem cliche it is better to be safe than sorry.

There are clear answers like never driving under the influence or when we are on the verge of sleep but there are other steps that aren’t commonly mentioned when it comes to reducing the number of deaths. One is simply checking up on someone who may seem unfit to drive and taking the initiative to hold them back, offering a rideshare, or driving them yourselves. It may be daunting to bring up someone’s current ability to drive but if they seem unwell to be behind the wheel you may be dodging a bullet to come. Many cars these days come with car play which can bring distractions to come on the road. Incorporating time before your drive to answer messages or curate a playlist for your ride can limit the temptation that comes with a fancy car screen. The “do not disturb” button on phones is also an addition to this as it blocks out messages until you are available to read them which would be post-drive. Personally speaking, I live in a neighborhood where people are more likely to drive recklessly at night so I avoid driving at night unless I have to because I know there are people racing and doing illegal car “tricks” on the road. Keeping my safety in mind is key.

One of my oldest memories was in the 2007 family Camry where a reckless driver hit us head-on. My younger brother had blood covering his mouth and I luckily sat uninjured shaken up by the accident. Fast forward to last year, my friend turned left unknowing of a large yellow Hummer coming her way and we were hit hard. Her car was left totaled. Both of these experiences will stick with me forever and knowing loved ones who recklessly drive sits unwell with knowledge and experience that being in a car accident can have lasting effects. It is never worth racing that car at the light or picking up your phone and it makes me upset seeing people I love take these risks for temporary relief and satisfaction. There are times when I have to grip my door handle and close my eyes, scared of anything that can happen when I am in the car with an irresponsible driver. But these experiences only pushed me to be more cautious on the road and while they left negative effects, I transformed them to make a positive and safe driving atmosphere.

A fault in my driving is often holding back the urgency of car maintenance. We all know the cost of maintaining a car can be pricy but what is even more pricy is potentially hurting yourself or others because of a flaw in your car. I am currently saving up for new tires because I’ve noticed the tread is running low on my front left tire but It was something I should’ve started saving for months ago. I have had a slight leak in my oil panel for almost a year and I have purchased the part but I take full responsibility for not getting it installed yet. Being a safe driver also means maintaining your car and that is something I am trying to do better about. When riding in the passenger seat, taking hold of the driver’s phone to answer urgent text messages is a simple way I help others become safer on the road. Controlling the music also draws away from distractions towards the driver. In stressful driving situations, calming the driver down and offering guidance is a way that I prioritize safety with other drivers. Overall, looking holistically is a way to not only be a better driver but help another driver.