A Responsibility We All Share

Driver’s ed isn’t just some boring class you have to sit through to get your license – it’s literally about keeping yourself and everyone around you alive. I never really got that until I started actually driving and seeing how crazy things can get on the road.

Last semester, my friend learned the hard way how one split second of not paying attention can change everything. He was rushing to basketball practice and didn’t look twice before pulling forward at a stoplight. BAM – he rear-ended the car in front of him. The crash wasn’t massive, but it was enough to damage his car and seriously shake him up. When he told me about it, he admitted he’d been glancing at his phone right before the accident. One moment of distraction, and suddenly everything changed.

But his accident isn’t even the craziest driving story in our friend group. My other friend has an insane deer encounter that still gives me chills when she talks about it. It happened last winter when she was driving back from a late-night at a family gathering. The highway was dark, and she was totally focused – which is exactly why everything turned out okay. A deer suddenly jumped out right in front of her car, and instead of panicking and swerving (which is what most people would do), she remembered everything from her driver’s ed class about staying calm and keeping the car straight.

Most people don’t realize that swerving is actually way more dangerous than hitting something head-on. She kept her hands steady, maintained her speed, and basically just braced herself. The deer hit the side of her car with this massive THUD that she said sounded like someone threw a bowling ball at the vehicle. But because she didn’t jerk the wheel or slam on the brakes, she stayed in control. No one was hurt – not her, not her passengers, and miraculously, the deer seemed to just bounce off and run away. Her driving instructor’s words came back to her in that moment: “Stay calm, stay straight, and control your vehicle.”

As a cross country runner who’s spent countless hours on team buses traveling to meets, I’ve seen firsthand how dangerous driving can be. Sitting up high in those buses, you get this crazy view of how many people are basically playing with fire on the highways. I’ve watched drivers swerving between lanes, tailgating, and scrolling on their phones while going 70 miles per hour. It’s terrifying. You realize that these aren’t just statistics – these are real people who could cause a massive accident in literally seconds.

Driver education is SO much more important than most teenagers realize. It’s not just about learning how to parallel park or pass a test. It’s about understanding the massive responsibility you have when you’re controlling a thousands-pounds machine that can seriously hurt people if you’re not careful. The stats are mind-blowing – thousands of people die every year in car accidents, and SO many of those could have been prevented with better education and awareness.

So what can we actually do to make roads safer? First, we need way stricter rules about distracted driving. I’m talking serious consequences – maybe bigger fines or even automatically suspending licenses for people caught texting while driving. My driver’s ed teacher showed us these brutal videos about distracted driving, and trust me, they’re way more effective than just telling people “don’t do this.”

Defensive driving should basically be mandatory. Most people have no clue how to actually anticipate problems on the road. Learning how to spot potential issues – like someone who might run a red light or how to react if someone suddenly stops – could save so many lives. Real-life stories are way more powerful than just throwing stats at people. When you hear about a specific accident and how it changed someone’s life forever, it hits different.

For me, being a safer driver means having some non-negotiable rules:

– NEVER use my phone while driving. If I need directions or have to respond to a text, I pull over or ask someone else to help

– Always leave early so I’m not stressed or rushing (which is when most people make stupid mistakes)

– Double-check EVERYTHING before moving – looking twice isn’t just a suggestion, it’s a must

– Call out friends or family if they’re driving unsafely. Yeah, it might be awkward, but I’d rather be that annoying friend than the one who stays silent

The crazy part is that driving safely isn’t just about protecting yourself – it’s about protecting everyone else on the road. Every single person has a responsibility when they get behind the wheel. My cross country bus rides have shown me how quickly things can go wrong when people get complacent.

My friend’s accident and deer encounter were total wake-up calls. Hearing about how a few seconds of not paying attention can completely mess up your day – and could have been so much worse – made me take driving seriously. It’s not just a cool milestone about getting freedom. It’s a serious responsibility.

I know I’m not a perfect driver. No 17-year-old is. But I’m committed to learning, staying focused, and helping others do the same. If I can prevent even one accident by being careful or speaking up, it’s worth it. Because at the end of the day, one bad decision can change everything – and that’s not a risk I’m willing to take.