I’m Driving Safely for Us

Growing up I was always told “sometimes you have to drive for others.” I did not know what it meant then and did not know for a while because I had a fear of driving due to it being the cause of death for so many people I knew. A close friend of mine’s mother died in a tragic accident resulting in me losing a mother figure and my mom losing one of her best friends. She could have been alive, but she did not have her seat belt on. That detail reminded me of my time in Drivers Ed earlier that year. Throughout the course, we read books and watched videos about the importance of seat belts, not texting while driving, being alert, not being under the influence while driving, and obeying all speed limits and road signs. Being taught all of this made me realize that everyone’s lives are the responsibility of another when driving and one simple mistake can cause a fatality. Even if you feel like just checking your phone for two seconds will not hurt anyone, still do not do it. Even if you can hold your liquor and have driven home under the influence many times before, still do not do it. It is selfish to only think of you when you decided to drive with thousands of other people. My mother’s best friend accident made me wonder why she would not have her seat belt on when that principle is universal knowledge. I could not quite understand until I began to drive myself. I did not get my license until I was almost 17 years old and a senior in high school. Getting over the fear of driving came with practice and now that I am used to it, I tend to slack on my safe driving responsibilities because I think I am a “pro” now and that everyone knows how to drive safe so I have nothing to worry about. These assumptions are wrong. I sometimes speed on roads where I think officers will not be patrolling. I even look at my phone while driving to change a song or call someone. These are selfish tendencies and I try not to make it a habit that I will regret in the future. Now, I try to go at most five over the speed limit and wait until I have stopped completely or made it to my destination to glance at my phone. If someone is in the car with me, I usually let them control music so my focus and responsibility can be driving.

Simple actions can save someone’s life while driving. Putting your blinkers on before switching lanes or turning, checking your blind spots, looking both ways at an intersection are some ways you can save a life because the alternative of not doing it could have resulted in an accident. All the principles of driving have been ingrained in me and have dictated how I choose to drive each day.