Hannah
G. Ball
Driver
Education Initiative Award
Driver’s
Education Essay
1
July 2019
The
Interstate Incident

“You’re
driving home,” my dad said as he handed me his car keys. Only a
couple of months ago, I’d earned my driver’s permit, so I felt
somewhat prepared to drive. Still, nerves crept up in my chest. I’d
never driven on the interstate before. I reluctantly asked if he was
sure. He was sure, so I hesitantly agreed. This was my first mistake:
doing something I knew I was completely uncomfortable with.


Everything
was smooth sailing for the first few miles. Then, as I went to merge
into a different lane, I swerved the car while trying to switch
lanes. I’ll spare you the technical details, but I nearly drove my
dad’s car straight into a cement divider that day.


You
could chalk this near-wreck up to me being an atrocious driver, which
is probably true. However, my biggest pitfall wasn’t my skill (or
lack thereof), but my unpreparedness. I wasn’t ready to drive on
the interstate, not at all. I had no experience and should not have
been driving on a road that fast, which brings me to my point:
driving education is a vital part of every person’s life. Driving
education can be the literal difference between life and death. I
know I wish I would’ve been more prepared before I drove that day.

The
effects of car crashes can be serious, even fatal in some cases.
Whether it be anxiety, panic attacks, PTSD, or physical injuries, the
effects of accidents can be detrimental to everyone. The CDC reported
in 2018 that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death in
US teens. They also stated that crash risks are highest in a driver’s
first year of driving. These statistics alone prove that there is a
serious need for more driving education. I know from experience that
unsafe driving has lasting effects on a person’s life. After my
close call on the interstate, I never wanted to drive again. I still
get anxious almost every time I drive, and I’ve had my license for
a year. Just a few days ago, I had to drive on the interstate again.
To make a long story short, I had an anxiety attack and broke down in
tears. I couldn’t breathe.


This
may sound melodramatic to some, but I know how important being a safe
driver is. It spares everyone a lot of pain and suffering if we all
learn to drive in a way that doesn’t harm others. When we feel
prepared and secure in our driving abilities, we are better drivers.

To
stop car crashes and accidents in the future, we need to take
preventative measures. We must educate our new drivers and raise
awareness about important driving issues such as speeding, distracted
driving, not wearing a seatbelt, and aggressive driving. Learning
about this topic is vital if we want to make this a safer world for
people on the road.