Navigating the Road to Safety: The Shared Responsibility of Drivers

It is 5 in the morning. The sky is pitch black, lit only by the white glow of snowflakes falling heavily to the ground and adding to the already snow-covered road. I double check my lights are on as I pull out of the driveway, already feeling the tires struggling to keep traction on the slippery roads. I shiver as the car begins to heat up, and turn down the familiar streets that will take me to the pool where I have swim practice every morning.

As I navigate through the silent streets, I think of the challenges that accompany early morning drives in winter. My mind is focused on many things at once, making this drive not an easy one. The heavy snowfall around me obstructs my view of my surroundings; the patches of ice on the road are invisible and unpredictable, making me pay special attention to the speed I drive, how I make turns, and how I stop the car; and the other early risers on the road are a paramount concern in my mind, thinking of the safety of every driver on the road.

Each and every day, regardless of weather, road conditions, traffic, and other endless obstacles, all drivers routinely take on the well-being of ourselves and thousands of other people on the roads, including drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. A driver has a critical role in reducing accidents and potential fatalities, and there are many steps we can all take to ensure safety in our driving journeys.

A successful and safe driver begins in the classroom learning the traffic laws and exploring the road regulations that we all must understand. It is critical that we all learn the state and federal driving laws so that we all operate under the same core driving language as we collectively make decisions on the road. When all drivers complete drivers education it ensures we all have a core set of knowledge we are using as we drive, thus preventing accidents and potential deaths on the road. I cannot imagine driving if most people on the road never learned the rules! What could happen at a 4-way stop, or when making a left turn, or changing lanes, if we don’t all “speak” the same driving language?

And it is not just about the classroom — the next step is practice. Practicing driving with a responsible adult and with a trained professional is critical before heading out behind the wheel solo. This practice time (during the permit year) allows for a driver to be coached while driving and to apply the learned rules to real life experience. For me, during driver’s ed, my professional drive trainer took me on a mountain road to practice the climbs, sharp curves, and descents. We also hit a major highway — exiting and entering several times to practice merging onto a high speed interstate. Both of these examples, plus countless more, allow for young drivers to practice stressful driving situations with a coach to support you through the process. This behind the wheel training of 50+ hours is critical for all drivers to have so that when they do drive solo, new drivers have the confidence and experience to drive safely.

The training does not need to stop once a driver has a license. Once you have your license, it is good to keep fresh with courses like “winter driving” or “defensive driving”. In the mountains of Colorado, there are programs that teach us how to drive in snowy, icy conditions to ensure that even in the toughest of conditions we have the skills to keep everyone safe.

In my lifetime I have only been in one accident, an 8-car pileup on Highway 36 leading into my hometown of Boulder, Colorado. Fortunately, my dad was the driver, and, to the best of our knowledge, there were no severe injuries among any of the vehicles. From what I recall, the whole incident was a bit of a chain reaction, and we ended up being the seventh car in the pileup. This was all at very high speeds, and some of the cars were totalled, including our Honda Pilot. Because there were so many drivers involved, and because no one single driver could be blamed, the police issued no citations. How could that accident have possibly been prevented? This is a question I still think about when driving, and always strive to keep a good distance between myself and the car in front of me.

I plan to be a safe driver for my entire life. I drive the speed limit, I keep my eyes focused on the road and my surroundings, I am well-aware of pedestrians and cyclists, and I take driving seriously. Driving is a privilege for me — it helps me to efficiently get to swim practice, school and to visit with friends. I do not want to lose that privilege, and most importantly, I want to do all I can to keep myself and others safe. As I drive with friends and my brother, I am a helpful passenger, and encourage safe speeds and actions as we drive.

As I park my car at the pool, the snow-covered roads fading into the background, the morning drive takes on a new significance. It symbolizes not just a daily swim journey but a shared responsibility. The road to safer driving for all begins with education, and a continued collective commitment to safe driving, for the well-being of ourselves and our fellow travelers.