Safe Driving Starts With Me

Living in Wisconsin, I have had my fair share of experiences with ill-informed and unsafe drivers. The changing seasons give way to black-ice, downpours, blizzards, and potholes that cause visibility and control issues and danger on the roads. Unfortunately, there have already been 501 fatalities in Wisconsin this year (Wisconsin DMV). Although it can seem like an immensely long process to get a driver’s license in the United States, I just got my license last March and feel like the steps I took were extremely important in maintaining a protected driving population and preparing me to be a more knowledgeable and safe driver.

The lengthy process now includes a six month long driver’s education, the permit test, required amounts of driving hours, six behind-the-wheels, and the driver’s test. These past two years have been a whirlwind as my peers and I have all survived watching countless “boring” videos on all the driving rules, spent many Saturdays waking up at 8 am to get this month’s behind the wheel done, and then, finally, the stress behind passing the permit test. At the time, it felt like a waste of time. Many teenagers believe that they know all the rules, I mean red and green lights are pretty explanatory, right? Wrong. As I have become a more experienced driver, I think back to the videos I watched and the things that my driving instructors taught me and I feel so grateful for the information and preparation that it gave me; there are many different circumstances every time a person steps on that gas pedal, and without the proper education, so many things could go wrong. In my experience, driving is a complex habit that is formed through continuous practice and collection of knowledge. Someone is always running into new situations like how fast they are speeding into a yellow light or trying to maneuver in heavy traffic. I believe learning and applying the rules of the road can significantly cut down on fatalities from driving, because without them it can lead to a number of dangerous and expensive consequences. Without my extensive driver education, I would definitely be a more dangerous driver, for myself, my passengers, and for everyone else on the road.

Though I think that I was well prepared in my driving education, there could always be more steps to reduce the amount of driving deaths. Improvements in decision-making, weather preparation, and overall driver education would benefit new drivers (like me) who could lack some of the experience it takes to be a smarter driver. For driving education, weather, and decision-making as a whole, I think that it would be beneficial to have certain conditions that a driver needs to drive in to pass their behind the wheels. To expand on this idea, I am going to tell a story. Last week, my hometown had its first snowfall. Blizzard-like conditions, 6 am in the morning, and reckless, tired teenagers were definitely a dangerous mix. Pretty much every single one of my peers had slid into a curb, or hit someone else, or drove off into a ditch. After talking to most of the newer drivers at my highschool, I found out that most of them had not even driven in snow before; these fast and furious drivers thought that they could drive normally in a blizzard, and many of them were proven wrong, one of my classmates even had to go to the hospital after his car was smashed. Thankfully, no one I knew had lost their life, but many cars were totaled. So, because of this, I believe that if Wisconsin driver’s education had a required amount of time that new drivers needed to drive in snow and icy conditions, many of these kids would not have gotten into serious accidents like they did and many of them would have gotten the proper experience in a safer, more controlled environment. Due to their lack of knowledge, they had to learn through failure and danger instead of specific instruction, a risk that does not always pay off. This story connected to each step that every new driver could take. With proper decision-making skills, a newer driver might decide to get a ride, leave earlier, or stay home in harsh conditions like my hometown. With weather preparation, the plows and drivers could prepare properly by removing snow off windshields and salting the roads. And finally, the necessary requirement of driving in different weather conditions should be included in every new driver’s education. Conversely, I know that more requirements could deter potential driver’s from getting the correct licensing, but I truly believe that a more thorough and protection based driver’s education program would decrease the amount of driving deaths.

Other than the winter disaster I experienced last week, I have only seen car accidents and fortunately have never been in any significant car crashes. Part of this is due to my parents’ teachings. My parents are the highest of role models; they do not use their phones while they drive, they do not eat, they do not speed or drive recklessly. My parents are focused drivers and they have made me practice this. I applaud their ability to teach me everything they know, as without it I would not be the person or the driver I am today. Now, with their help and my own experiences, I can use that to guide the people close to me and share my driving knowledge with my children too someday. Even now, I do not use my phone, I make sure that my friends do not either. I do not speed and I remind my driver’s to go the speed limit as well. By following the rules and regulations set in place, and making quick and smart decisions, I am able to convince myself and my peers to be focused and safe. I know that my help is valuable in keeping the people in the world around me danger free. Overall, I know that just mentioning or reminding a person or myself of a driving rule is the first step in becoming a safe driver. By practicing safe driving, I create a habit of being knowledgeable and smart that will keep the driving population safe.

All in all, I believe that like most things, safe driving can have a ripple effect. As a teenager I know the impact that peers can have, and by being a good influence like I try to be, I can see the ways that my friends have changed their driving to be smarter and safer. Starting with me, I need to lead by example. When I remind my friends, or drive my passengers with care I am sending a message about the urgency of being a safe driver. I create a habit for myself and a model to follow. Now, my friends, my younger siblings, and maybe even my parents, can be reminded of the steps it takes to make driving safer, and lessen the risks that driving can bring every single day.