Box of Chocolate

A box of chocolate

         Driving is like a box of chocolate; you never know what you will get. Every piece of chocolate represents every day we get behind the wheel, all with their own different experience. Some days those experiences will be filled with joy as we ravel in the freedom and liberty driving gifts us, while others not so much. However, how we respond to these experiences, can help shape us into safer drivers. 

Drivers ed plays a pivotal role in reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving. Knowing when you have to signal, or how to safely merge onto highways, can help prevent accidents from occurring. Some steps to reduce the number of deaths related to driving include a required course/class that exposes students early on to practice safe driving. It is never too early to start talking about the importance of safe driving. By making it a requirement in school it allows students to understand the responsibilities (along with the privileges) they carry when they get behind the wheel. Additionally, this drivers ed course can provide an opportunity for younger students (like myself) who might not have the financial resources in order to take driving lessons or even complete their education online. Overall, exposing young students to drivers ed can aid them in placing value in the importance of being a safe driver and the consequences of driving irresponsibility.

  Another step to take towards reducing those numbers would be to require drivers to take a driver test every five or ten years. This would allow drivers to actively learn and practice safe driving. I have heard some people state, “once you have your driver’s license you can drive however you want” and have personally experienced such method of thinking on the road. There was an instance where I was driving the speed limit in a residential area and the car behind me (which was tailgating me) swerved into the opposite side of the road to get ahead of me. As a recently new driver myself, such lack of responsibility and disregard for others on the road, only fueled my driving anxiety but also compelled my desire to help others be safer on the road. 

As a result, I took my piece of chocolate, appreciated the experience it provided me and took some steps to be a safer driver. One step is to constantly refer back to the DMV driver handbook when I forget how to handle certain special driving situations or how to safely deal with aggressive drivers/road rage. I am not a perfect driver; however, I do my part to actively continue to relearn all the important information that the handbook contains. I also urge those around me to do the same; take every experience, every piece of chocolate and grow from it.