One Mistake. One Life.

Vanessa Do

One Mistake. One Life.

Although I feel that in-car experience makes a safe and smart driver, drivers ed is also a crucial component for any aspiring driver. It is necessary for one to education him/herself about the mechanisms of their vehicle and the safety rules that must be implemented on the road. It allows for maturity in one’s knowledge about themselves and their relationship with driving, which can help promote safer habits when on the road. It also educates about several risk factors that many can overlook, therefore preventing an unfortunate situation before it even occurs. There are several things that can be implemented in any driver’s routine to reduce the number of fatalities related to vehicle accidents. For example, getting adequate sleep is vital to be vigilant on the streets, playing music at a minimal level, avoiding unnecessary distractions such as using your phone, eating, applying makeup, etc.

As a young adult, many of my friends and I have not been behind the wheel for long. Yet for some reason, we often have this false sense of confidence in our driving abilities, which leads us to become reckless in our driving and adopt dangerous habits that can result in deadly consequences. Fortunately, I personally have not been in any vehicle or related accidents, but several of my loved ones have suffered the consequences that arose from their own and/or others’ actions. Seeing the severity of the ripples that result from a single distracted action makes me constantly reflect upon my own individual responsibility when I am behind the wheel of a machine that can become a threat to my own and others’ safety.

One of the most highly prevalent dangerous driving habits in this technology-obsessed culture is phone usage while driving, which I am also guilty of doing. There are so many dire consequences that can come from being distracted for a short moment, and it is truly not worth hurting myself or others just to look at a text. To prevent the temptation of reaching for my phone, I can give my phone to the passenger, put my phone on airplane mode/ mute when driving, or in any emergency situations where I need to use my phone, I will pull over and park safely to use my phone then. Another step I can take to become a safer driver is not driving when sleep-deprived. Instead of driving when sleepy and relying on “hacks” like drinking caffeine or nodding my head to keep me awake, it is wisest to get adequate rest before driving or not driving at all when not necessary and taking public transportation. If I become sleepy halfway during my trip, I can park in a safe area and take an energizing walk or a short nap. Clearly, there are so many things that everyone, including myself, can implement to become more responsible drivers to cultivate a safer world for all.