We Are Not Invincible

I can vividly recall the day I was 6 years old and at gymnastics class when my mom told me we had to leave because my brother was headed the hospital. She had just gotten a call from a stranger who said she saw his car hit a telephone pole. She stopped to check on him and call an ambulance. We were shocked because he had just dropped us off at practice only twenty minutes before and he was headed to his class at the community college. He was 18 years old.

Our story has a happy ending. My brother came out of his accident with some mild injuries and shock. The car was totaled. The insurance company and police who investigated the car said that he was lucky he was wearing his seatbelt because it saved his life. Additionally, the car seat I had been sitting in only minutes before was thrown towards the front of the car. Had I been in the car, I would have been seriously injured or worse. There were no other cars involved in the accident, the roads were clear, and the weather was good. When asked what happened, my brother admitted he was tired and he dozed off behind the wheel. We all thank God that this accident wasn’t more fateful. My brother had taken the safe driving course before getting his license but, as is typical with teenagers who believe they are invincible, he didn’t heed the warnings that he learned in class to never get behind the wheel when you are impaired—and that includes being tired. Fortunately, he learned a lesson that night.

As I was growing up, my father always told me the biggest responsibility I would have would be getting behind the wheel of a car. After my brother’s accident, I knew this was true. While many of my friends complained about having to take safe driving classes before getting their licenses, it never bothered me. Many people think that they know how to drive because they have been passengers for 16 or more years. They think that they will be able to get behind the wheel and figure it out or that it will come naturally. But this isn’t the case. Driving isn’t second nature and you don’t learn it by osmosis. Truth be told, most teenagers aren’t paying attention to the rules of the road when they are riding passenger, anyway. They are more engrossed in their phones or the company around them. For these reasons, safe driving courses are a necessity.

Driver’s education classes allow student drivers (whether teen or adult learners) to learn skills and road rules in a classroom setting before they are on the road. They can ask questions and for clarification on things they are unsure about. This avoids insecurities and fear when the student driver confronts these things in real time. By allowing students to learn the theory of driving before practicing these skills, they build confidence in their driving ability. One thing you do not want to do when driving is be hesitate. This can cause an accident just as easily as reckless driving can. By incorporating classroom instruction with road instruction and plenty of practice, new drivers will build confidence and improve their driving abilities.

In order to further reduce driving related deaths, all drivers (not just new drivers or teen drivers) should refrain from using cellphones while driving. This includes texting and talking. Anything that distracts the driver’s concentration from the task at hand should be saved for when they are not driving. Additionally, all drivers should commit to never using a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. While this may be common sense, many people think they are fine after a drink or two when in actuality they are still impaired. If you must drink, then you should have a designated driver or call for a ride. Safety first is most important.

I know that I learned a lot from my driver’s education course. There were many rules of the road that I thought I knew that I was wrong about. There were also some that I had never heard about! I was confident getting behind the wheel of the car because I knew that I would be a safe driver however, I do worry that others may not be as careful as I. I have promised not only my parents, but myself, that I will never use my phone while driving. This is also a sticking point for me with others. Anytime I see someone texting and driving, I tell them to stop. No text is more important than their life. I also promise to never drink and drive and I will not allow anyone else to do so either. I believe that it is never safe to get behind the wheel if you are impaired. This applies not only to alcohol and drugs but also to your mental state. If you are too upset, I do not think you are in the right frame of mind to drive. I have seen people who are angry or distraught get behind the wheel and take off recklessly. This is never a good idea.

I recognize that I cannot control what everyone else does but I can control myself. I can be a safe driver and advocate for safe driving to my friends and family. I can start by providing a good example in my actions and offering supportive words or encouragement. Hopefully, this is a start on the path to helping others be safer on the road and decrease the number of deaths by driving. Because honestly, life is too short to lose it by accident.