The Misconception About Driving

Even with a limited teenager’s experience, I can say that I know two people who have died in car accidents and a whopping zero people who have had their life taken by a war. Many people, including myself, neglect how important it is to truly drive safe. I wanted to get in and get out of drivers ed so I could finally get my license and experience that excitement everyone had when talking about hitting the road. My head was filled with imaginings of bright green buggies with the windows rolled down, music blasting, and a chocolate lab’s head sticking out, its tongue lolling in the breeze.

When I actually got into the driver’s side of a car, that dream bubble popped. The feeling of rolling forward, of being in charge of this massive hunk of metal, having to be coordinated enough to be aware of my surroundings, make sure I wasn’t speeding, listen to my driving instructor, and not kill anyone all at once was overwhelming. Once I was free from seemingly-scary driving instructors and having to get my fifty hours with my parents (which made me wish that I had cherished my driving instructors) I had a fully-fledged license and the freedom to drive around by myself. Escaping the eyes of authority figures who wouldn’t hesitate to tell me what I was doing wrong was like finally being able to breathe again. However, it caused me to grow lax. It takes about five years to become an experienced driver, yet I felt invincible. If I made a minor mistake, it was just a part of the process; Surely, I knew enough about driving not to get into an accident. I’d seen my parents make mistakes: swerving while eating, cranking the music, driving while tired. Since they were “experienced drivers”, I figured that it was okay, which is the worst fallacy. Everyone, even experienced drivers, should put away distractions and constantly make the effort to drive better and to recognize risky behavior.

Driving is a tri-tango between oneself, other drivers, and the road. All factors play into what may happen, be it a collision, rollover, etc. It’s a hands-on learning experience, something that can’t be learned from a book; yet it’s essential to know the rules before getting behind the wheel. I’ve never been in an accident, by God’s grace, luck, and what I learned from drivers ed, but it’s terrifying to think that vehicular accidents are the third most common death in the U.S. and the number one cause of death among teenagers. Those deaths can be prevented by taking drivers ed (learning from guardians isn’t always the best, especially if their motto is, “When you see the stoplight start to turn red, gun it”), constantly referring to a driver’s manual (no matter how good of a driver you think you are or how long you’ve been driving; laws change, and memory fades), and being courteous and cautious while driving. Don’t be dumb at the wrong time.