Be Where You Are

Be Where You Are

Erik Mathys

I have always wanted to learn to drive at an early age and my parents prepared me well by talking about the rules of the road long before I every sat in the driver’s seat. In Ohio you can apply for your temporary permit at age 15.5. As the day approached, I was strongly encouraged by my parents to study for the test. My friends had done well without preparing so I thought I would as well. Two days before my test my mom quizzed me on the rules in the preparation book. Needless to say, I chose the wrong answer on several questions. After studying for the next two days, I was happy to successfully complete the test. Then it was on to the drivers ed class which I took on-line. As a reward for passing the test, my Nana gave me a medallion that clips to my sun visor that says, “Nana loves you so drive safely.”

Being overconfident in my ability to multitask while driving was my first mistake. How hard can it be to read the signs, see traffic, and change the radio station all while watching for pedestrians and deer? After many strongly worded reprimands by my parents as they observed by driving, I finally accepted the fact that driving is a skill that is learned, honed, and practiced every day. Just as with my baseball swing, you never stop reassessing your current skills and look for ways to improve. I was lucky enough to be able to have a car to drive to high school- with the knowledge that it was a privilege that came with great responsibilities. I would observe many accidents just in the parking lot of the high school. My friends were so ready to go to their next place that they forgot where they were.

When I was younger my 19-year-old next-door neighbor fell asleep while driving his car. He was driving in the early morning and ran off the road and crashed into a barrier. His car caught on fire and luckily an off duty EMT was driving by and dragged him out of the car before it was completely engulfed. He was in a coma for months and has never recovered from his injuries. I need to keep this in mind when I am behind the wheel and even, I sometimes forget. These are the things I have come up with to remind myself to be the best driver: Plan ahead: get plenty of rest the night before a long drive; if I am expecting a call make sure my phone is set up hands free in my car; send all the texts before I leave- even one as simple as “driving for the next 30 min- call me if you need something”; if I want to listen to Spotify, set it up and have it playing before I even leave the driveway; set up my navigation; plug in my phone so I do not run out of battery. Reduce distractions: I keep music soft enough to still hear sirens and honking horns so I am not surprised by them; Set car rules: I make sure my friends are respectful of my willingness to drive and do not distract me; when there are others in the car, the shotgun seat is the co-pilot and as such they are there to set up navigation, watch for cars, construction signs, animals and help the driver. I have had many fun trips with my friends, but they know if they cannot follow my rules of the car, they are no longer welcome. Be safe: always look around your car before you get in; check the tires for air and damage. “Be where you are”: just like when you are in class you should be thinking about class, when you are driving, the most important job is driving. Talk about your experience: Instead of being embarrassed by making a mistake or not knowing what to do, talk about what happened when you get home. One thing I learned very quickly: if you miss your turn- so what? -take the next exit. There is never a situation where you should panic and do something stupid, just because you missed a turn- just “recalculate route”!

I know that being a good driver will be a lifelong skill, so I really try to be a good example. I do not want myself or any of my friends to end up like my crippled neighbor.