A Vulnerable Driver

Receiving your driver’s license is one of the most exciting milestones to accomplish as a teenager. When I turned sixteen my parents bought me my very own car. It was used, and wasn’t the most appealing to look at, but it was mine. The feeling of having your very own mobile escape is totally different than driving your mom’s SUV on the weekends. I thought I was ready; I had some driving experience under my belt and passed the driver’s education course offered by my high school. Now, looking back, I realize that wasn’t enough! As a new and vulnerable driver, no one had warned me about all of the “real-life” dangers that come with wielding a two-ton vehicle. However, I found out soon enough just how crucial it is to be prepared for any situation on the open road.

On the frosty morning of January 15th, 2020 I was driving up some of West Virginia’s most windy country roads, except this time, I was going to school, not home. My high school was built on top of a mountain, I was at the bottom, and had ten minutes left to spare before the bell rang. Back then, I was very anxious of being late. I decided to take the known short cut to my school. Yes, it was a short cut, a very dangerous short cut. This road was notorious for being scattered with potholes, and littered with uneven pavement that swirled around a neighborhood of houses without any guardrails. It was the kind of road only used if you lived there or if you were late for first period. I followed the path around the treacherous one-hundred eighty degree bend, however, it was still a normal day of driving and singing to Frank Ocean for me. As I pulled my steering wheel to guide my car around the turn, my tires hit cinders and my car began to slide. My steering wheel locked causing my tires to remain turned to the left as the car was still in motion. Everything was happening so fast, what do I do? Driver’s education never taught what to do in this situation! The turned tires then caused my car to use the hill on my left as a ramp catapulting me up into the air, turning me upside down and into the house below. My heart was beating out of my chest. At first, I was in shock. Thankfully, I was blessed with a calmed brain which helped me gather my focus as I became aware of what had just happened. I found myself sitting on my driver’s side window as I was looking for my cell phone to call for help. Once found under shattered shears of broken glass, I immediately called 911 and asked for an ambulance. As I awaited the emergency responders, it started to sink in that my car fell on a house! Part of my car was actually inside the house, with people there at the time! It was my fault and I was ill prepared in what actions could have prevented this tragedy.

Driver’s education classes are great for passing your permit test, giving you knowledge of road signs and simulating how to get to the grocery store. What the current Driver’s education course does not teach is the tremendous amount of responsibility that comes with maneuvering a vehicle. This vehicle could become deadly in an instant. That lesson should be expressed over and over and over again. I don’t think kids are being put into the mindset of “this could actually happen to me” until it actually happens to them. I believe more awareness should be placed on the dangers of driving in addition to what is already offered. Anyone can pass a driver education class and learn how to drive when the conditions are perfect, but that is not real life.

I believe steps can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving. This can be accomplished by stressing important risks that drivers may face. It is better to arrive somewhere late, than to never arrive. Instructors must emphasize the duty and responsibility that comes with driving and the impact the driver’s actions has in regard to the safety of themselves and others. A suggestion would be to make driver education courses longer and more in-depth. My high school course was only one semester long. Another recommendation would be to have car crash simulations. These crash simulations would enhance quick thinking and split-second life- saving reactions.

I was lucky, after shattering my back window, the fire fighters saved me from my close call coffin, but many new drivers are not as lucky. Not having the knowledge of what to do in a dangerous driving situation coupled with not realizing the enormous amount of maturity and responsibility it takes to safely maintain an automobile can cause injury or death. These risks can be minimized with intense driver education courses that distinctly focus on these issues.