Steering Through Life

The penetrating scarlett light switched to a vibrant emerald, igniting engines and exerting carbon dioxide. In the herd of vehicles a metallic, prussian blue, Kia Rondo contained my mother, grandmother, and grandfather. As the vehicle ahead of them proceeded to accelerate, my mother gently pressed her foot on the pedal. One of her hands was gripping the steering wheel as the other was touching up her makeup in the rearview mirror. She occasionally glanced at the road while evening out her lipstick and talking to my grandmother who was seated in the passenger seat. From the corner of her eye, she noticed a Ford Truck approaching her petite Kia. Time slowed as she observed the Ford hurling towards her. The reverberating impact shook everyone and everything within the car. The hand that was retouching my mother’s lipstick lay limp at her side. My grandfather who was sitting in the backseat was crudely yanked into his seat by the safety of his seat belt; however, my grandmother who was sitting in the passenger seat lacked this comfort. Unfortunately, she disregarded the notion, and remained unbuckled. Her chest heaved over the inflating airbag as her shin collided with the solid glovebox. My mother frantically exited the Kia to observe the damage of the collision. The bumper dismantled, her headlights were demolished, and the passenger seat was crushed. Fortunately, none of my family members were severely injured, and all returned home safely. My grandmother sustained chronic knee pain from the accident leading to years of physical therapy. Although the physical injuries were minor, the crash created a traumatic memory for all of those involved.

I heard about the devastating accident on my way home from Gymnastics. My father came to pick me up early that day. Reluctantly, I entered the car wondering why he pulled me out. The only worry I had at the time was that I couldn’t practice my backhandspring for longer. I buckled up and impatiently waited for his explanation. While we were on the road, my father relayed the overwhelming news. At first, I couldn’t believe his words; no, I refused to believe him. My mother was a good driver. She couldn’t possibly get into an accident. This was until we reached home and I saw the enlarged bruise on my grandmother’s shin. Reality struck as I witnessed the extent of her injuries. My eyes began to water and I embraced my family in an empathetic hug. My voice broke as I declared to be a safe driver and passenger when the time came to receive my license.

Each time I entered a car, I would ensure that everyone had their seatbelts on, myself included; this habit continues even today. I did not want the accident to repeat. Later on, I decided to begin the Driver’s Education course in order to get my learner’s permit. Ecstatically, I studied the manual for hours learning many interesting statistics about road safety. For example, more than 46,000 individuals perish from a car related accident. This may include reasons such as texting while driving, drunk driving, slippery roads, and many more. What baffled me was the number one cause of death between 5-34 year olds is car accidents. Car accidents were far more frequent than I imagined. Driver’s Ed taught me valuable information regarding how to drive, vehicle safety, and recognizing road signs. Without Driver’s Ed, I would not know that maintaining a 3-4 car distance is optimal for cushion time; this provides extra time to react regarding any unexpected incidents. Driver’s Ed also allowed me to pass the permit test with a high score. It is important to learn more about Driver’s education if an individual plans on driving. According to the United States Department of Transportation, crashes can be decreased by around 50% if the driver has taken the Driver’s Ed program. This statistic proves the significance of investing in the program, and investing in life.

After completing the required permit test, I continuously practiced for the road test. My father took me to the nearest parking lot where I cruised on gear 2, simply learning how to turn the wheel. From there, I progressed to using just the breaks while maintaining speed. Next came parking, which took longer than I imagined. Finally, my father allowed me to use the accelerator and turn signals. This gradual process of trial and error allowed me to learn a lot about driver’s safety. From my dad’s personal lessons, he emphasized being a defensive driver. Although I heard this term throughout the Driver’s Ed course, I was unsure of its definition. As my father explained to me, being a defensive driver is being alert and making up for the mistakes that others cause. He referred to my mother’s accident. Although she had the right of way, she should have left a gap between herself and the vehicle in front of her. The accident continued to replay in my mind and I understood what my father was telling me. I aced my road test, waited six months, and began driving others. The experiences of driving have allowed me to grow and learn more about the ways of the road.

From a general perspective, the United States should continue hosting Driver’s Education. This system bolstered the foundation for my secure driving. This program has instilled confidence within me and allowed me to prosper as a driver. Also, defensive driving should be taught. People make mistakes, and that is a part of life. Learning to adapt quickly and safely can save lives. Therefore, Driver’s Ed is significant in decreasing accidents in America, and learning from mistakes can be crucial on the road.