In the Driver’s Seat

In the Driver’s Seat

By Madison Kaufman

Driving is a privilege offered to anyone in the United States if they meet the basic requirements associated with their states. The concept of driving is such a normal thing that millions of people take for granted. The ability to drive carries serious responsibilities and is why a mandatory drivers education course is put in place for beginners. Driver education is essential in helping young people learn to navigate the roads safely and to be able to understand what to do in all possible circumstances. Many people underestimate the true risks driving has, which results in many fatal accidents. Having the basic background knowledge of driver education automatically reduces the number of deaths resulting from driving. Driver education will teach one how to properly abide to speed signs, maintain a safe following distance, read certain road signs, react to hazardous weather conditions, what to do in emergency situations, importance of wearing a seatbelt, how to maintenance a vehicle, how to react when an emergency vehicle is approaching from behind, and so forth. These are all things that will reduce the number of driving related deaths. If a driver is driving without this knowledge, it is almost as if they are trying to ride a bike with no pedals, it is nearly impossible.

Every person is victim of getting too comfortable and confident with something, just for it to blow up in their faces. I can attest to this firsthand through my experiences in driving. To give some background, I was taught at a young age how to operate four-wheelers and other motorized vehicles. As a result, I was a natural when it came time to officially start driving. The first year and a half of driving on my own I had zero accidents and became very comfortable. I noticed myself losing sight of the true danger driving entailed and became an irresponsible, reckless and dangerous driver. I would take the speed signs as more of a suggestion rather than a rule, I would merge quickly around other vehicles on the highway, I would be in a hurry to get everywhere and I was fearless on the road. These actions resulted in a bad accident caused from hydroplaning on the freeway. It was early in the morning on Mother’s Day of 2021. I was rushing on my way to church with my four-year-old cousin in the backseat. I left the house with my dads lasts words in mind, “Be careful, it’s raining.” I did not take much thought to this and carried on thinking nothing bad could ever happen to me from driving. I was so far from wrong. After just a couple minutes of being on the highway, I decided to switch lanes to the far left. My vision was completely blocked, due to the hard rain and fog blanketing my windshield. There were cars covering the highway, some going slow and others speeding right past. After joining the speeding cars to the left, it was just seconds until my car hydroplaned. The back end of my vehicle flung around to the left side of my car and spun my baby cousin and I in circles across the whole freeway. We managed to spin all the way to the right side of the highway and hit the cement wall and then spin back around to the left side of the highway and hit the other cement wall. After jerking around in the car and flying across the highway with oncoming traffic, we were terrified. Complete shock and disbelief. I was panicking thinking the worst for not only myself, but everything else that could have happened as a result of what just occurred. Ever since this, my outlook on driving has forever been changed.

For a while after my accident, I was traumatized to try driving again. I have never been so shaken up after seeing death look me right in the eyes. Looking back, I believe this was a wakeup call and is exactly what I needed to remind me of the true responsibility that driving holds. I am now practicing safe driving and have significantly changed the way I view what it means to be on the road. There are several steps I have and can take to become a better driver. Some of these steps include being more patient, staying cautious at all times, watching all around me, knowing my environment, paying attention to the road, putting down the phone while driving, watching the movement of other vehicles, slowing down when the weather is bad and staying a far and safe distance from any other cars. To help others become safer on the road I can share my experiences with them and provide them with all the knowledge needed to practice safe driving. I feel every time a driver gets in their vehicle; they should understand it is possibly their last time. The safety of driving is so unpredictable because it lies mostly in the hands of other people. Therefore, it is so important to consider the risks and use your previous driver education to your advantage to ensure the safest possible ride. Irresponsible driving is not worth dying for.