The Day I Almost Lost Everything

I can still remember the day as if it was yesterday-the day I learned how one split second of insecurity behind the wheel can change lives forever. It was a Saturday afternoon, and my friends were on our way out to the beach. The sky was clear, the summer heat at its full bloom, and all were looking forward to spending a relaxing day by the ocean. The car was filled with laughter, the music was blaring, and everything just felt perfect. At 18, I had just passed on to the roads a few months prior. Like most new drivers, I thought at the time that I knew it all. Little did I know, it would prove to be one of those days which would teach me just how much I still had to learn.

My friend Javier was riding shotgun, while the other two, Maria and Dani, were huddled in the back, chattering annoyingly about weekend plans. I could feel the nerves clawing their way up my spine as I merged onto the freeway. It was one of those moments that felt off, even though nothing particularly was wrong. My hands were clutched a tad too tightly onto the wheel, and my mind bugged with thoughts of the cars whizzing past us. I was at the speed limit, yet somehow, to me, I was going too fast. Attempting to shrug the feeling off, it only heightened as we approached that notorious bend in the road-a bend known for beguiling even the most seasoned drivers.

I was unprepared for what was about to happen.

As we approached the bend, a huge truck was in the lead, doing a great speed, till suddenly I found myself tailgating and hadn’t even noticed. The lights of the brake of the truck lit, and in no time the truck had braked to avoid something on the road. Panic kicks in. My heart was racing as I slammed on the brakes, but I had hit them too hard. The car fishtailed sideways, skidding, and we lost control. Javier yelled something I couldn’t hear, and all I could see was just sheer terror in Maria’s face through the rearview mirror. It felt like everything was in slow motion as the car precariously swerved toward the metal guardrail that lined the freeway.

For a heartbeat, I really felt we were going to crash-that I had just made the worst mistake in my life. In that second, I really saw: cars blurring by, the sound of squealing tires, and the helplessness that enveloped me. My life, my friends’ lives-everything just seemed to hang in the balance. Then, almost miraculously, the car regained traction. I made a correction in the steering, just enough to pull us back onto the road, to avoid disaster. We sat in complete shock, saying nothing but the sound of our labored breathing. I pulled over at the next exit, my hands trembling onto the steering wheel. I had never been so scared in my life.

That was the moment I understood what a responsible driver really is and how everything out of control in just a fraction of a second can get when you are not confident or secure behind the wheels.

Driver education is more than an arbitrary requirement to get your license-it’s a crucial step in cutting the numbers of deaths caused by driving. Too many drivers, especially new ones like me, don’t take as many cautious approaches as they probably should when it comes to the road. We assume that once we get the basic mechanics of driving, we are ready for anything. In any case, what I picked up that day was that to be a safe driver, constant attention, confidence, and the ability to keep calm in a tight spot are gifts from heaven. Without these skills, every time you’re behind the wheel, you’re putting yourself and others at risk.

It was a harrowing experience, and afterwards, I had to reflect hard on how my lack of driving experience and confidence almost cost us everything. I knew that even though I was taught the rules of the road in driver’s education class, I hadn’t fully comprehended the enormity of responsibility that one assumes behind the wheel. I never thought much about my friends’ lives, as long as one kept to the speed limits and followed traffic rules. Reality hurts, though-small mistakes, minute miscalculations, can culminate in a fatality.

Only teaching people to drive will not help in saving the number of deaths due to driving; we have to incorporate a sense of responsibility into them. Driver education programs need to focus more on defensive driving, educating drivers how to tackle unexpected situations and manage the emotional and mental stresses when on wheels. That is the reality to which my friends and I, young drivers, need to be awakened: even one moment of distraction, hesitation, or insecurity may well spell disaster.

I have also viewed personally how irresponsible driving can affect those around me. Some of my friends have developed careless road habits, such as running yellows, texting, or tailgating. They drive as if driving were casual, something they could do without having to think about it, like taking a walk or riding a bicycle. But through my near-miss experience, I learned just how dangerous such thinking is. Each time I see one of them in some form of risk, I cannot but remember just how close I came to losing control of my car and probably my friends that day.

So, what have I done to become a better and safer driver? Well, first of all, I promised myself never to stop learning. Immediately after the incident, I returned to driving school for more confidence and to learn how to behave in extreme situations. I promised not to be distracted by anything-no more tuning radio stations or glancing at my phone while driving. I remind myself to drive defensively, giving enough distance from any other car, if not heavier flow or tricky road conditions.

I began to tell my friends how important responsible driving is to help others be safer on the road. I tell my story in hopes it may serve as an eye-opener for them to respect road safety more. I encourage them to not use their phones while driving, always to buckle up, and never think they can be complacent with their experience.

What I was taught that drizzly afternoon was the concept of being a safe and informed driver-it wasn’t just to avoid getting tickets or to prevent an accident. It was saving the lives of everybody on the road, yourself and your loved ones included. Driver education can help prevent deaths from accidents but is more than the bare minimum. It is supposed to teach us the importance of vigilance, confidence, and responsibility each time we sit behind the wheels. The outcome that day with regard to me and my friends may have been quite different and for that, I will always be grateful. Each time I get behind the wheel, I carry with me the weight of that lesson in trying to be as much of a safe driver as possible.