Practice Makes Perfect

Everyone remembers the first time they drove. Mine was around two weeks after I received my permit. My parents pulled off to the side and told me to just go for it. I was so terrified and didn’t even make it to my destination. For Christmas that year, I opened up a piece of paper indicating that I would be taking a Teen Defensive Driving class at the Mid Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. Honestly, upon first viewing the present, a few tears may or may not have been shed out of fear. However, this experience ended up being one of the most empowering and beneficial experiences that I have ever gone through. I learned about how to handle my car, do a quick lane change, how the anti lock-brake system works, how to handle drifting and spinning, how to regain control, and various other lessons.

Prior to the defensive driving class, I had always been taught to fear the road. It was a scary place filled with intoxicated drivers, horrible weather conditions and many unexpected circumstances that can never be foreseen. While I was always told to be cautious and to try to avoid these kinds of situations, I was never taught what to do if I ever encounter them. This is what I believe to be the biggest disadvantage for new drivers, that is, they are taught to be afraid of the road they are on, but not necessarily what to do when they encounter dangerous situations.

Driver education helps students be able to prepare for the situations that one may experience. To reduce the number of deaths related to driving, I would highly encourage new drivers to take more classes that better prepare them for the various situations they many experience when driving. Also, defensive driving lessons are especially beneficial as students receive hands-on experience in controlled environments. Additionally, while I do think it is worthwhile to explain to new drivers that there are going to be hazards on the road, more experienced drivers should instruct newer drivers on what to do when they encounter these situations. Practice makes perfect, and the more that students apply what they are being taught while driving will aid them when circumstances arise.

One will never be able to prepare for all of the circumstances that can happen on the road. For example, I have been in multiple car crashes, all of which have been the result of other less experienced drivers or bad weather conditions. My parents and grandparents were the ones driving, and if it wasn’t for their experience in some of those situations, we might have been in a worse situation. If there is one thing that I hope someone can take away from this essay, it is that the best way for all of us to overcome fear is with practice and faith in our abilities.