Behind the Wheel

I drive approximately twenty miles a day. That is a lot of miles available to mess up, be unsafe, or get into an accident. All that being said, I like driving. So, how do I stay safe in the car?

Let’s go back to the first day I began driving. I was fifteen, and had just finished an online driving course, along with going and getting my Learner’s Permit. I insisted that my mom let me drive her large Honda Pilot for what seemed like hours. She finally agreed, and that was the first time I drove a car. It was a nightmare! I wasn’t confident, and my mom’s nervousness was infecting me. I remember people were honking at me and swerving around me. Despite that first horrible experience, my fifteen-year-old self still had an insatiable urge to get behind the wheel.

Fast-forward to my sixteenth birthday- right in the middle of a pandemic and quarantine. I was so upset because now that I was finally able to start driving alone, the Tax Collector’s office was closed, and I was forced to wait a month. I waited and eventually got my license, and the desire to drive only went up. I would go grocery shopping all the time for my mom and would go out and drive for no reason. At this point, my confidence in my driving skills was too high. I wasn’t worried too much about getting in accidents because I believed I was already safe.

I’m not too sure what woke me up from the idea that I was the safest and best driver. It could’ve possibly been my mom’s rants about me driving too fast or my sister’s complaints about the way I made turns. Either way, I decided I needed to ensure I was keeping myself and the people in the car with me safe. Looking back, I can honestly say that this is a big indicator of my maturity.

Being the methodical person I am, I decided to make myself a list of rules. This list of rules would help me personally to drive safely. The list includes vague topics such as going the speed limit and stopping fully at stop signs. It also includes less obvious tips that help me personally. Let’s navigate through my rule list for driving.

The first rule is obvious: seatbelt. I put it on before I start driving, and at this point, it’s muscle memory. The seat belt rule also covers telling everyone in the car with me to put their seatbelt on and ensuring they do so. Another rule involves my phone. No phone, no phone! Can it be any more obvious, using a phone while driving is so dangerous! Although it can be tempting to skip that one song or respond to that one text, it is an absolute no because of the massive risks to safety. One text is not worth risking my life and others’. The next rule I use is to always turn my bright headlights on in the night (when no other cars are around, of course). For some reason my town has a lot of back roads with no street lights, and it’s so annoying! Therefore, this is such a good rule to use because a lot of streets get really dark, and I have trouble seeing. Using the brights is essential for me at night. This next rule is quite the opposite. This rule is to wear sunglasses and use the window sunshades. That beautiful Florida sun can turn into an enemy really quick in the late afternoon. The bright sun can impair vision, and to stay safe, the proper measures must be taken. Another rule I have tends to be more broad than the others: look out for pedestrians. Pedestrians include walkers, bikers, squirrels, and jaywalkers. Although these roadblocks tend to be annoying, I had to make a rule for myself to always be careful when they are around. For example, blind curves in the road and bikers on the side of the road require special attention. I go slower in these areas to ensure safety.

Along with many other rules and precautions I set for myself, these rules are what keep me safe. As I have been driving for almost 3 years now, I know the importance of staying safe in the car. Driving safety is not about keeping the car safe, but the people inside of the car. Everyone on the road should know the importance of safety and should follow laws. Driving can be a breeze when you follow the rules of the road and come up with rules for yourself to follow. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to go drive!