Sorry Dad

I will never forget the conversation I had with my dad that day. “Hey, how are you?” he asked me. I hesitantly responded with, “Not great, I just got into a car accident.” Thankfully, he immediately dropped everything and headed to the scene of the crash to ensure that I was alright. On December 15, 2021, I rear-ended another vehicle due to distracted driving, resulting in the total loss of my car. Fortunately none of the occupants of the other car were injured, but I almost became part of the 34,000 Ameircans that pass away each year as a result of driving, due to being distracted.

This experience made me realize that driving is not meant to be a fun activity, but a serious task that requires all my attention. I believe a large part of the reason why younger drivers are responsible for most accidents is because driving is portrayed as a gift given to teenagers when they turn sixteen. As a sixteen year old, getting your license means more freedom, being able to go where you want, playing music as loud as you want, and not needing to rely on parents to take you places any more. However, you fail to realize you now have a responsibility to keep yourself and others around you safe. At least that is how I thought of driving prior to the accident. I now realize that this point of view is conceited, dangerous, and almost got me killed. This mindset is caused in part by the fact that teenagers brain’s have not fully developed to perceive danger the same way adults do, making them more prone to take unnecessary risks. I believe that the key to reducing the number of deaths related to driving is to eradicate the foolish mindset I once had, without needing to be in an accident. Once you realize that a car is not a toy, but a two ton steel box with wheels, the gravity of driving becomes much more apparent.

The most effective way to get rid of this mindset is by making Drivers Ed more challenging, as it is the first line of defense in keeping new drivers safe. A few months before I turned fifteen, I took Drivers Ed to be able to get my Learners Permit as soon as possible. I remember it being easy, probably too easy, because the simplicity of the class gave me the impression that driving would be of an equal simplicity. Even before I had driven a car, I had a false sense of confidence. If the class were more demanding, I would not have had this preconceived mindset about driving, and I would have had to study more, resulting in a greater knowledge regarding driving. That is not to say that the class is at fault for my distracted driving, because the dangers of distracted driving were preached very often but they were only presented through statistics. In addition to being more demanding, I think there needs to be a lesser focus on statistical evidence regarding the dangers of driving, and more emphasis on individual cases to evoke a stronger emotional response. It is difficult to understand the dangers of driving with mere numbers, but seeing evidence can instill the necessary awareness to prevent accidents. I believe that the simplest solution to this issue would be to add the Basic Driver Improvement Course to Drivers Ed, and not reserve it for those who have committed traffic offenses. Taking the Basic Driver Improvement Course, which proved to be an incredibly useful resource. Throughout the course, I learned the practice of defensive driving and how to be more aware of those around me, and I am grateful for the opportunity to become a better driver.

A few weeks after the accident, the time came for me to get behind the wheel again. It was nerve-wracking. My mind was consumed by the scene of the crash, getting closer and closer to the car in front of me, the tension in my leg as I slammed my foot onto the brake pedal, knowing I did not have enough distance or time to stop the car. This time however, I had firsthand experience on the dangers of distracted driving and I was determined to become a better driver. Although getting behind the wheel again was intimidating, the Basic Driver Improvement Course eased some of the stress. I have since sworn to myself to always remain aware of my vehicle and those around me, and to do everything within my power to never be in that situation again. Overall, the accident made me a much better driver, and I hope that others are able to learn from my mistakes instead of making their own.