My Experience with Driving Safety

I was absolutely terrified to drive. The very thought of being the one in control of a giant hunk of metal weighing thousands of pounds hurtling down a road alongside countless others and risking their lives and mine was not something I looked forward to as much as some of my peers did. When my patient mother finally coaxed me behind the steering wheel, I preferred to practice in a nearby parking lot, just barely crawling along, and likely concerning the local security guards. After about a week of this, it came time to advance to an actual road. I have, thankfully, come along ways since then and now consider myself a competent and safe driver.

The driver’s education course that I attended most certainly did its job in preparing me for the dangers that can happen when safe driving is not a priority. We were made to understand that this is no trivial activity and improper driving may lead to dangerous situations that lead to permanent consequences on peoples’ lives.

It is well-known that distracted driving is incredibly dangerous, and in some cases, deadly. Thousands of injuries and deaths are due to distractions while driving (Burgess, Los Angeles DUI). I know many of my peers who would carelessly text while driving, among other distractions. Adults, too, including some of my family members. I did not want to put myself, as well as the drivers around me, at risk. Thankfully, that was emphasized again in my instruction courses, and I developed a habit of placing my phone in the backseat. Even if tempted, it would not be physically possible to pull it out. Chapter 11, H.F. 50 was signed into Minnesota law in 2019, requiring hands-free usage of devices while driving. I think it is a fantastic precautionary safety measure, although not all-encompassing of the ways that drivers are able to be distracted on the road. I continue see some drivers continue to handle their devices even with the law enacted, but those occurrences are much less frequent than before it existed. I believe this action will prevent many avoidable deaths and injuries on the road.

I learned to drive in a small town, where the road layout is simple, and it doesn’t take long to understand how to maneuver the mild traffic. A concern of mine was driving to new areas and experiencing multiple lane roads and more intense traffic. Before I drove on my own, I wanted to have knowledge of these things so I wouldn’t be a hazard to those around me. In Driver’s Education, we were taught in detail how to properly handle roundabouts, but little was mentioned about metropolitan traffic and layout.

I think young drivers should be taught how to maneuver all types of roads before they experience them. (How to behave around exit ramps, what to do if there are more than three lanes going the same direction, etc.) These may be second nature to young people who grew up in locations that these road features are common, but many have not, and it could be a hazard to experience that without having some prior instruction. Even basic knowledge is better than none at all. In regard to driving distractions, I think educational classes should also provide some alternatives and tips how to use devices safely. A small example of that would be to emphasize entering one’s destination into their GPS before beginning to drive.

The main thing that concerned me about driving was the aspect that I cannot control: other drivers. I choose to not be distracted and to make wise and careful decisions, but that doesn’t mean others will. My mother trained me to be observant and drive “defensively.” Even so, I realize that driving is risky even if I am doing everything safely. I have been in a vehicle where the driver is not paying proper attention to the road or is even driving improperly to be “funny.” They were negative experiences that made me feel very nervous. We should encourage our friends and neighbors to drive safely and not encourage that sort of behavior. This is everyone’s responsibility.

Some insurance companies already offer incentives for creating safer driving habits, such as apps that monitor how fast the vehicle is going and financially benefitting the driver for being safe on the road. Another type of incentive that could be offered for promoting safety is helping drivers adapt to using hands-free technology in their vehicle. Insurance companies could require, or, even better, provide the necessary equipment to help their customers be wise with their technology at no cost to them.

Nowadays, my driving experience is much more enjoyable than it was when I was a beginner. I still have concerns about my own safety due to the recklessness of other drivers and other factors I cannot control, but I am confident in my own abilities. In the last year, I received my first speeding ticket. I can honestly say that I have improved my driving since then and drive at appropriate speeds. I had to admit my fault and change- for the safety of myself and for others around me. Safe driving requires all of us to accept our responsibility to keep each other safe on the road. Laws and regulations are a major part of that, but it all starts small, in Driver’s Ed. classrooms full of nervous kids.

Sources

Burgess, Ted. “Which is more Dangerous? DUI or using a Cell Phone While Driving?” The Los Angeles DUI Experts. https://www.losangelesduilawyer.org/los-angeles-dui-info/which-is-more-dangerous-dui-or-driving-while-using-a-cell-phone/

Minnesota Legislature https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2019/0/Session+Law/Chapter/11/