A New Driver’s Road

I remember vividly one of the first experiences I ever had driving my Subaru Outback. I was heading toward a local restaurant with my mom in the passenger seat. We were hungry and tired, and, regardless of my dread of being behind the wheel, Mom wanted me to drive. I needed the practice if I was ever to receive my license and gain some independence before going to college about a year later. About two minutes from home, I didn’t even think of turning left and going a faster way, but Mom instructed me to turn left. Having never used a center turn lane before, I got into the lane, but I kept going straight. Though we had traveled the faster way countless times, my brain relayed to me that I’d turn left further down the lane. Suddenly, I could hear, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING” as a car came into the lane from the opposite direction. I froze in fear, as my mom took the wheel and a car behind us started honking. Driving us into the proper lane, it was all I could do not to cry as I took back the wheel and moved toward the restaurant. I still remember my mother’s words to this day: “You could have gotten us killed!”

Though a lot of people don’t talk about it, nervous driving, in my opinion, is just another form of distracted driving. It’s one thing to be cautious and calm, but it’s an entirely different thing to be so scared of what’s ahead that your brain freezes and you do what I did, or worse. Having passed my second attempt at a driver’s test at nineteen, I can attest to the fact that being unconfident in your driving decisions can either make for a tougher, long road ahead (like I had), or a short one, where you might not be so fortunate. Before a drive, stopping to take a breather and making sure of the route you’re taking is an extremely helpful tool in combating that anxiety and preventing accidents. This is just one of the steps that can be taken to be a better, safer driver.

Countless advertisements, parents and teachers constantly remind us not to be distracted drivers, but that couldn’t come at a more crucial time. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that distracted driving was the cause of over 23,000 deaths and over a million injuries between 2012 and 2018. This ranges from the constantly warned against drinking and driving to the even more common eating, changing radio stations, talking or texting on phones, and even sleeping at the wheel. Steps to take against distracted driving can start in the car even before one is able to drive with a permit. My generation has been one of effortless access to the internet, music, and television right from a cell phone, which can be both convenient and harmful for drivers of my age. From a young age, I can attest to looking at a phone rather than outside my car window while my parents would drive. After so much time going to certain places, I’d think I knew the way there, but when starting to drive, I realized I didn’t always know common road names and wasn’t always confident on how to get to places about thirty minutes away. Teaching your kids to be aware of their surroundings early on for long-term safety rather than the short term satisfaction of looking at various notifications will aid them consistently.

Driver education is essential in preventing distraction, confusion, and nervousness, therefore reducing the number of driving-related deaths or injuries. Thorough instruction on the basic parts of cars and what they do can prevent car malfunctions on roadways caused by lack of maintenance. Tips on how to drive well in less than ideal conditions can prevent accidents due to hazardous weather or other drivers (defensive driving). Warnings on the direct effects of distracted driving can keep said driving from occurring. In my personal experience, I learn to drive well visually. Many of my peers are much more likely to remember how to brake effectively in a winter storm by being shown how, or much less likely to drive while texting after seeing footage of an accident caused by it.

As a new driver, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m grateful that I failed my first driving test because of a knocked cone. Because of it, I’ve had two rounds of Driver’s Ed, more hours driving with my parents and an instructor, and a slowly decreasing fear of the road. Up until the day of my second driving exam, I learned multiple things. Becoming an adult and taking responsibility for yourself is difficult, but worth it. It is better to make mistakes early on and in a safe environment in order to learn from them better. Finally, I learned that a lot of aspects go into driving, and though it may become second-nature, it is never without caution or thought. With all of the elements you have to consider, including speed, gas levels, objects in your periphery, oncoming traffic, directions, and more, I can’t imagine going into it blindly. I needed the education, not only for my safety, but for the safety of those around me, and I’m proud of all of my progress because of it.