Taking It Seriously

After practicing the maneuvers of my car in an empty parking lot for a week or so, my dad finally let me turn on to a busy street. As I approached the stop sign, I felt my heart beat faster and faster until it was finally clear to make the turn. I followed through with the hand-over-hand technique my dad taught me to turn the steering wheel, and I kept my car in the middle of the road like he told me to. I finally felt the weight of operating a vehicle and was overwhelmed by the responsibility drivers have. I felt uneasy that I had to trust everyone around me to be a safe driver, and hesitant that everyone around me had the ability to cause an accident. From that moment forward, I promised myself that I would always operate my vehicle safely so that I could protect drivers and their passengers around me.

Whenever I drive, I always hear my dad’s voice in my head guiding me through my travels. One of the main things he emphasized while teaching me to drive was that speed is a major factor in all accidents. He said that if you’re not going too fast, there is a lower chance that the car will lose all control if an accident is about to occur. I think about that every time I drive, and remind myself of his words as I see a car passing me at least twenty miles per hour faster than me. Driving a speed that is near the limit and appropriate for the weather conditions is vital to keeping other drivers and their passengers safe. It prevents accidents in inclement weather, and allows the driver to keep the car under control. Driving a safe speed reduces the chances of life threatening accidents. When I drive, I stay at or under the speed limit, and maintain control of my car by keeping a substantial distance between me and other drivers.

A philosophy I adapted without my dad’s direct guidance was refraining from distracted driving. My dad likes to check his email sometimes while on the road, and I always turn off his phone so he knows that I’m paying attention to his driving behavior. Distracted driving whether it be through technology or intoxication takes thousands of lives every year. I always set up a music playlist before I start driving so that I don’t have to touch my phone. I will never get in a car with someone who is intoxicated, and I will never drive while intoxicated. My dad lost an aunt to a distracted driver, and I’ve heard plenty of tragic stories about deaths from distracted drivers at my school. Putting an emphasis on distracted driving in education is something I feel very passionate about because hearing someone’s personal experience with motor vehicle accidents sparks emotion in me. I talk to my friends about their distracted driving habits in an effort to make them safer drivers, and I will continue to shut my dad’s phone off when he checks his email.

I am very thankful that my dad taught me how to drive safely and that my school brought guests in to share their experiences with motor vehicle accident deaths. I feel that it has made me a more conscious driver, and I will continue to drive safely with my attention on the road at all times. Deaths from driving is something that can be prevented, and I want to be a driver that is defensive and encourages others to take it seriously so that everyone can travel safely.