The Privilege of Driving

When I was a sophomore in high school, I remember being excited to achieve my license and being allowed to drive. My parents did not allow me to drive until I received my permit. During that time, I worked on my driver’s education program, which I took online, and I finished it as quickly as I could just so I could finally drive. One major factor I did not realize is how much driver’s education impacts one’s understanding of the road and driving. Becoming educated about driving helps learners become equipped with the knowledge necessary to operate vehicles safely.

There are countless steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths by driving. Many accidents are caused by a driver not being focused on the road or the cars around them, leading to crashes. When entering my car, I check and make sure my passengers are comfortable and buckled up. Their safety is more important than my own when I am driving because they trust me to transport them safely. To prevent accidents, drivers should be tested thoroughly before they receive a driver’s license to ensure they are ready. Even adults cause accidents these days because they are “used to driving.” They become so comfortable with driving that they stop paying attention

I have never experienced a crash personally, but I can remember one that happened in June of 2024. He was about to begin his sophomore year of high school. It was around 10:00 P.M. on Sunday, June 9th, 2024 when I received a text from my cousin that this boy had passed away. When I received this text I did not believe her at all. I went to bed thinking she was joking with me, but still very worried because who would joke about something like that? The next morning, I woke up to go do our summer morning workout, and I had to go pick up my friend from her house. As soon as she opened the door she said “Oh my gosh.” That is when I knew it was real. I bawled the whole way to the school while driving and felt guilty for not believing my cousin the night before. He was such a light to the world and carried God with him through every step. Seeing his family and his girlfriend for the first time hurt me more than anything. During this time he was dating my little cousin, the sister of the one who texted me. It broke me seeing how defeated she was. She lost the only person she truly cared about. I never realized how much he was in my everyday life until he was really gone. The cause of the accident was reported to be he was going to fast down a dirt road and hit a pothole that sent him out the windshield. The dirt road he was going down led to his girlfriend’s house and the spot he passed at was about three miles away from her house. His mom realized his location quit moving so she texted my cousin’s dad to go check on him. He was found dead on the scene. The impact it had on the community shows how much we truly care about the people around us. I still cry knowing he is not here with us anymore. Before that there have been two more people from Hooker, Oklahoma, that have passed in the last two years from incidents. One is a girl that just graduated and was heading home from her college when she ran into the back of a car that was fixing to turn left and she did not realize he was stopped. Another one was a guy that was just outside of town but I do not know much about his incident.

There are many steps a driver can take to make the road safer for themselves and others. Drivers, including me, need to practice staying alert and attentive in all driving situations. Many individuals can be easily angered by other drivers and risk both of their lives by not driving safely. One step that can be taken is by making sure the person about to drive is okay and safe to drive. If not, there needs to be a designated driver on hand to keep everyone safe. Little aspects, such as being considerate of other drivers, can lead to safer driving. People should practice caution and patience on the road. Another step to keep everyone safe on the road is making sure the electronic devices are put away. In order to prevent myself from checking my phone, I think about what I am about to do and how I could be risking my life. In that moment, I think about how I could be risking someone else’s life since I would not be paying attention.