Driving: A Life Long Education

The first time I pulled out of my parents’ driveway independently, a huge sense of pride washed over me. The long hours of drivers ed, the many lessons I had to take, and all the anxiety leading up to the days before my driver’s test had all been worth it because I was done. I was, at last, an independent driver behind the wheel on my own. As I rolled towards my first set of traffic lights and my home shrunk behind me, I genuinely believed that my driving education was completed. No one had ever told me how your driving education never truly stops.

My first day out on the road, my father told me that a car is like a bullet. He said that it can be a deadly weapon if mishandled, so it must be treated with responsibility and respect. For teenagers like myself, driving is the first adult-like activity that we are legally allowed to do. It is our first opportunity to prove to the world that we are mature and capable of handling ourselves.

Driving comes with a lot of responsibility. My first encounter with an atypical driving situation came about ten minutes after leaving my home my first time. You can imagine my panic as a ladder seemingly appeared out of thin air on the highway 50 yards ahead of me. Anxiety bubbled through me as I quickly slowed down, signalled to the right and moved around it. As I regained my speed, and glanced in my mirror watching other cars do the same, a thought struck me. Never in any of my readings or lessons was there ever a warning about obstructions on the highway and what your response should be. The first major decision I had to make while driving independently was one I was not adequately prepared for. My driving education was not complete as I initially thought, and it would never truly be finished.

Coming to this conclusion by myself was shocking. But it does make sense, seeing as there are an almost infinite number of road dangers one can encounter on the road, each with its own unique response. To reduce the number of accidents on the road, understanding that every driver is constantly still learning, is a critical realization that must be internalized. This understanding makes driving less of a disconnected activity. Your alertness and awareness should never become obsolete on the road, no matter your years of experience. Sadly, this understanding is much harder to teach than it is to live through experientially. However the importance of reiteration and teaching of these lessons in the safety of the classroom is an essential first step. Without this, new drivers will enter the streets with a naive mind, just as I did. Luckily, I was able to recognize quickly that my driving training had really only just begun my first day out on the road. My hope is to spread this vital message to any new drivers in hopes to educate them on the immense responsibility that comes with the privilege of driving.