The Lucky Ones: What We Can Learn from the Ones That Walk Away

“I wrecked my car because my brother and I were playing around on the road,” a coworker informed me sheepishly.

“I got distracted on the highway and didn’t notice when the cars in front of me stopped. My car was totaled,” said one of my peers, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment.

“I got into two accidents in the last year of having my license,” my neighbor proclaimed. “I just wasn’t paying attention.”

These are real conversations that I had with real people I care about- people who were lucky. These three were able to walk away unscathed from situations that people are hospitalized or killed by daily. When I listen to these stories, I am saddened not only by the damage they described, but the avoidable series of events leading up to it. Did you catch it? “My brother and I were playing around on the road.” “I got distracted.” “I wasn’t paying attention.” Distractions are one of the greatest challenges for teen drivers. We have phones that demand attention, radio stations and Bluetooth playlists that can be chosen and changed, and friends who we find more interesting than traffic.

I am a lucky one too. There are moments when I chose to look at a passenger instead of the cars ahead. Times where my mind wanders, or, even more condemning, my hand goes to the phone in my cup holder to check on a missed message. The only difference between the stories of my friends and of mine was that my moments of unsafe choices did not result in a crash. I am so, so grateful for this, because I know people who have been less lucky, like my dad.

My dad was in two accidents during my childhood, one of which resulted in lasting injuries that nobody should ever have to live with. Neither accident was his fault. The other vehicles— one of which was a semi-truck— were driven by distracted drivers. One rear-ended him, the other almost crushed his car from the side. His shoulder bone was broken and has never fully healed. He still carries the pain today as a souvenir. It has restricted him in many areas of his life and career. At the time of his accidents, my dad was a man in his prime who at the time had provided for his family through working manual labor jobs. Although he kept a positive attitude and pushed through, it caused him excruciating pain.

Seeing my father go through that made me realize the importance of being a smart driver. This prompt relates to me well, because safe driving habits have been on my mind a lot, especially as a relatively newer driver. Instead of leaving my phone within arm’s reach, I put it in the backseat. I wait until safe moments to make that silly expression at my friend. When I am driving somewhere unfamiliar, I leave a little early so that I can pull off the road if I need to fiddle with my phone. I refuse to play around on the road, because I have seen the painful aftermath of a moment of reckless behavior.

One of the reasons I prioritize these habits is because of driver’s ed. Driver’s ed continues to play a huge role in my perception of being a driver. Those hours watching videos and reading material really instilled in me a sense of reverence for my position on the road. It has been one of the biggest influences over my actions on the road. Not only did the course inform me about road laws, it also included several interviews with the family members and friends of individuals who had been killed in car accidents. This brought the reality of driving to life: it was not just a mode of transportation, but also a potential weapon.

To promote more safe drivers, I would suggest two things. One would be to have driver’s education taught in public schools at a lowered rate for the students. This would not only help students take the initiative to learn the discussed safe habits but would allow those from lower income families to be able to take these classes. With these courses, road safety would be front of mind, even years after the license had been initially received.

The second action that could be taken is a more personal commitment to encouraging safe drivers: leading by example. Young drivers are constantly in the presence of older drivers. Whether a parent, older friend or mentor, the actions of these drivers are picked up by young drivers. By responding to a text on the highway or cutting another vehicle off in traffic, they are unconsciously giving those watching permission to do the same. Leading by example can look like engaging in safe driving habits and even having conversations about them with passengers.

The reality is that although we are often lucky in our moments of distraction and bad decisions behind the wheel, not everyone is. Looking at a passenger can result in a totaled car. Changing the radio station could end in a trip to the hospital. Checking a missed message could be the cause of death. Maybe it sounds dramatic, but the statistics speak for themselves. In 2024, approximately 400,000 accidents were the result of a distracted driver. By committing time and energy to driver’s education courses, some common bad habits can be prevented. Introducing more worthy role models on the road can lead to growing amounts of good drivers in years to come. By treating driving with the reverence and seriousness it deserves, we save lives.