The Terrors of Driving

As the speed limit sign swept past my passenger seat window in a blur, my friend and I screamed in relief when the police sirens trailed behind the car in the other lane. The irresponsible and frightening decision to race the vehicle next to us fell into the hands of the driver, my best friend at the time. The reckless act was meant to kindle the fun and excitement of a teenager with freedom; the incident not only completely disregarded the teachings of driver education, but also broke the law. If my friend had followed the rules and guidelines of driver education, we would have had a safer driving experience. Driver education allows for a safer driving experience and reduces the number of deaths in the car by teaching the rules of the road.

I can not count how many times I have heard of horrific car accidents leading to death, or the amount of roadside memorials I drive past each day. Driving education limits the number of accidents people see and hear about. Basic driving skills, such as making a complete stop at a stop sign, are key concepts that can reduce the chance of a life-altering crash. Even the small rules taught can mean the difference between life and death on the road. The consequences of driving when not in a fit state are also taught in the driving curriculum. Driver education teaches that driving is prohibited when under the influence of alcohol, when extremely tired, or if there are adverse weather conditions. Anytime I hear the words “Don’t drive when…!,” my classmate’s story is pulled to the front of my memory. “As an infant sitting in the backseat of the car,” she said, “my mother was very tired after a long day of work. On the way home, my mother’s eyes closed. Within an instant, the car ran off the road and flipped onto its backside into a riverbed.” Luckily no one was injured, but the thought of the near-death incident still haunts her to this day, even if she does not recall the accident herself. If the mother were to follow the rules of the road, the mishap would have been avoided.

As a 17-year-old with a driver’s license, I see many of my classmates driving on the road. The amount of reckless and unsafe driving that I witness never fails to blow my mind. A dangerous problem that I have observed in high school drivers is not abiding to the speed limit! It is almost a daily occurrence that someone follows behind me too closely on my drive home because they are not patient enough to go the speed limit. As driving education teaches, following closely behind vehicles is not a safe driving practice. One day as my mom and I were driving on the highway on our way to San Antonio, an eighteen-wheeler in the lane to the right was trailing a car closely. Had that car braked suddenly, , the giant eighteen-wheeler would have demolished the tiny vehicle. I hate to be the “Karen” who tattles on everyone, but guess what? I did, because the driver of that enormous vehicle was putting everyone in a dangerous position. Road rage is also a common problem when traveling on wheels. The unnecessary anger from strangers because of small mishaps continues to make me chuckle. Although I may let a few angry words out of my mouth because of others’ reckless driving, I always tell myself to take a deep breath and continue driving safely.

I hate breaking the rules. Because I am terrified of getting pulled over, going over the speed limit is not part of my driving profile, not to mention that my parents would be infuriated if I received a speeding ticket. However, following the rules is not always thrilling. I can recall many times that I have swerved on the road because I was reaching for my lip gloss or I was trying to find the right tunes to match my vibe. People need to realize that rules are meant to keep people safe, even if they are annoying. One time, a guy was driving his car and glanced over at the flashing chicken express menu. Bam! Just like that, his small car ran into the back of my mom’s expedition. Had he been paying attention to the road and aware of his surroundings, the fender bender would not have ruined his afternoon.

Many car accidents occur daily, many of which lead to death among the people in the car. At what point will people realize that the rules of the road taught by driver education are put in place to ensure safety? Remember to follow the rules and drive in a safe manner. It is always better to be safe than sorry!