The Significance of Fear

“The
Significance of Fear” by Ellen O’Neill

Unlike
most of my peers, I was not overly excited to turn sixteen and test
to get my driver’s license. I was overwhelmed with the fear that I
would get in a fatal accident, but my parents explained to me the
importance of getting my license. I am the oldest of four children
and with both parents working, I need to help out with transportation
to and from activities. My parents got me a 2005 Mercury for my
sixteenth birthday and I had to hide my tears. I was not ungrateful,
only scared at the materialized reality of driving. The sad truth is
that my fear wasn’t exactly unfounded because driving can be
extremely dangerous. According to the CDC (2018), more than 100
people die each day as the result of car accidents, and many more are
seriously injured. It is also true, however, that this danger
can be greatly decreased with better driving education, more
specifically by educating the public on how to overcome fears about
driving. Fear may encourage conscientiousness while driving, but when
out of hand it causes panic that may result in otherwise preventable
accidents. When looking at drivers ed, the kids or adults who
fear driving are often overlooked, as we tend to focus on those who
are overly excited and need to be taught the dangers. The topic of
fear must be addressed in a way that recognizes the scary statistics
related to driving, but even more importantly shows how we have the
power to change those statistics. Even though you are only one
person, each person who makes a conscious effort to be safe while
driving has a substantial positive impact on overall road safety. I
studied intensely for my test, practiced with an instructor, and
received a score of 98%. The issue was not my content knowledge, but
rather by confidence and comfortability. 

Early
in my driving career, I was met with my biggest fear while driving
home from school one day. I was still slightly uncomfortable with
driving and my stress was especially raised this particular day. It
was raining hard and the main road I was driving on lacked lines
because of ongoing construction. As I was making a left turn I was
hit by an incoming car; thankfully, no injuries occurred. I did not
want to drive ever again, but my parents encouraged me to try again
and for that I am very thankful. I never doubted the importance of
knowing the rules of the road, but I did not realize the significance
of conquering the mental aspect of driving until after my accident. I
am now a much more confident driver. I know that I can only control
my own vehicle, but I can also encourage those around me to drive
safely, which makes a bigger difference than one may think.