A Driver’s Oath

A Driver’s Oath

By Victoria Sanchez

The numerous amounts of car crashes that occur in my town is a subject that continues to perplex me. Several years ago, I completed a driving class course. As a new driver, I was under the impression that all citizens came to the same agreement of staying safe on the roads. It seemed reasonable that all drivers would take this private oath. Although, in my town, this oath never seemed to be present until an unfortunate incident were to occur.

Having started my years of driving at a young age, I was very excited about having a driver’s license. At the age of 16, I felt ready to take on the world as a licensed recipient. Around this time, my friends also began to obtain their licenses. The excitement I felt as I took my first step into adulthood was short-lived. A few months ago, my best friend of 12 years was involved in a car accident. One evening, I had received a dreadful-looking text from her. Reading this message left me in a sort of daze. I was very grateful that it was only a moderate car crash, yet I could not help but think of the ‘what if.’ Previous to this dilemma, many of my close friends had been in car accidents, ranging from minor to severe. Besides, I had come close to being in a few crashes myself. Each accident did affect me, yet this seemed to matter most since it had involved someone whom I have grown up with during the best years of my life. I recall crying that night as I thought about what a life without my best friend would look like. This event had changed my perspective on the importance of driving safely.

In this case, my best friend was not at fault. Given this, I realized that staying safe on the roads does not only apply to you. The phrase implies that your actions do affect the other drivers around you. Driving irresponsibly can harm both the driver and anyone else who may be involved. As a driver, I cannot stress how important this subject of safety should be emphasized in drivers ed. As a pattern, many are unaware of the effects that come with driving until it harms an individual close to them. It is unfortunate that many individuals almost need a traumatizing incident to occur for the lesson to be understood. In my case, it took a ‘what if’ to realize the dangers of driving irresponsibly. To prevent car accidents, drivers, including myself, should make it a priority to become aware of our surroundings. It is prevalent that once drivers become too comfortable with driving, then we also become careless. It is not noticeable until these neglectful actions result in something disastrous. With this in mind, I vow to stay safe on the roads to protect the lives of others and myself.