The Fragileness Behind a Wheel

Callie Nelson

Driver Education Initiative Annual Scholarship

29 November 2020

The Fragileness Behind a Wheel

There are certain events that occur in life where God provides a teachable moment to not overlook. I remember the exact vision my eyes caught on that rainy night of January, the glowing green light looming above initiated my pressure on the gas pedal and my truck accelerated into the intersection. Just then, the green flashed to penetrating yellow and there was no time to pause and consider what the consequences of my decision might be. I had just spent my entire summer soaking up traffic laws and driving regulations and always had strong confidence as a driver. Suddenly, there was the quick flash of headlights and the sound of steel crunching, glass screeching as it made impact with the other vehicle. Some of us drivers, we turn the music up, our minds get taken to another thought, we feel invincible. The driver opposite the intersection may have been feeling invincible that night too; maybe he was in a hurry or distracted. It does not matter, neither of us were practicing safe driving that night. Suddenly, my entire body was thrown. My hand fished around the floor for my cell phone and dove for the button, “mom cell”. Mom says it was the St. Thomas pendant in the truck that kept me protected that night, but I believe it was God reminding me how fragile life is.

The driver’s education course is invaluable, we need to recognize the importance of keeping those lessons and tools forefront and fresh in our minds.  According to researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, “Young drivers who have not completed driver’s education are 24 percent more likely to be involved in a fatal or injury accident and 16 percent more likely to have an accident” (Reed, 2015). Every one of us contributes to the number of innocent lives lost each year due to traffic related incidents. The world Health Organization comments, “Approximately 1.35 million people die in road crashes each year, on average 3,700 people lose their lives every day on the roads” (Road Traffic Injuries, 2020). It starts by being considerate to those around us. Sometimes I realize how caught up we become in our own lives; everyone is more concerned about getting to where they need to be that we lose sight that driving is not entertainment. It is staggering how precious lives are destroyed everyday due to drunk drivers, all while the victims’ loved ones are left broken from the selfishness of another who got behind the wheel, who did not consider the innocent child playing on the lawn they are about to plow through. 

To be knowledgeable and a safe driver means being responsible enough to put yourself and your needs aside each time you turn that key in the ignition. Why do we get behind the wheel without a second thought as to what we are doing? Each time we drive away we need to recognize; it is not just our life we are putting on the line.