Overcoming The Death Delivering Machine

I was one of those rare teenagers that has absolutely no desire to drive. Taking the bus has been my primary means of travel during high school. I had accepted the situation and it has worked very well for me. But beneath the surface, my fear of learning to drive continued to take hold. I was not the least excited to wield a 60 mile per hour death delivering machine. The combined anxiety from my parents’ ability (or inability) to teach and the mounting pressure of this rite of passage drove us into the competent hands of a driving school.

The first 15 minutes driving the school’s Mazda 3 were glorious. The way it handled turns, its braking when coming to stoplights, so different than my family’s clunky Camry. Oh, this is what driving is supposed to be like. In my second week of driving school, I made the mistake of driving home after an exhausting volleyball practice. If the oncoming car hadn’t been paying attention, I would have been at fault for causing a serious accident. The anxiety that comes from possibly getting or being the cause of accidents is a real concern, not just for new drivers but for their parents as well. According to Safety Insurance, 43% of first year drivers get into accidents, a number reduced by 4.6% due to Advanced Driving Training. Anxiety from parents or harsh reactions, although sometimes warranted, block students from achieving confidence in their skills and laying down a strong foundation for driving. On my third day, my driving instructor showed me one of the cars that had been demolished during a lesson. A driver speeding 80 miles per hour exiting the freeway rear-ended a student driver and instructor. Thankfully, no one was hurt due to the dual control system.

No one on the road wants to get in an accident; it’s in everyone’s self-interest to be safe. No one wants to contribute to the accident fatality rate either. I can do my part by dealing with my distractions (my phone!), maintaining my vehicle, and of course, following the rules of the road like wearing a seat belt. Being comfortable behind the wheel doesn’t mean losing vigilance. There’s always a warming up period when switching vehicles, too. Despite this, people still get into accidents. Once basic muscle memory is established and the driver becomes more comfortable maneuvering their vehicle, understanding the nuances of driving can be introduced.

I no longer refer to cars as death delivering machines. I wish I would have gone to a driving school sooner and not let the anxiety of driving keep me from getting my license. Lessons have been learned, both through experience and observing others driving responsibly or irresponsibly. While I’m no Dominic Toretto from Fast and Furious, I’ve become confident in my driving skills and can’t wait to share the tips and tricks I learned with my little brother.