Preparation Equals Success

“Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.” This is a quote from Alexander Graham Bell. It is wisdom that can spread to many aspects of life, including driving. Having the proper driver’s education is one of the most effective ways to be prepared for the rest of your life’s journeys. It is something that most people will use every day, unlike calculus. Having quality programs and passionate teachers is the way that teens all over the country will be able to be the most prepared for driving, and more successful at safe driving. I would not have minded if the course while in school would have been longer, for some more experience. Luckily, I have parents willing to teach me in their own cars, but many kids leave that class and do not have the resources to practice much more on their permits. We, as students, are spending more time in classes learning about things that we will not be taking into our everyday lives. It would make sense to me that we spend more time learning about strategies in driving that could save our lives. I think if there were a group project it might be beneficial. Projects tend to stick in the mind longer than lectures and testing.

We, as teen drivers, are warned of the dangers of drinking and driving. Lately there has been a push for the dangers of texting and driving. We are aware and informed of the consequences. Still, I have had teens I know have tragic wrecks from doing various unencouraged things while driving: drinking alcohol, texting, falling asleep. These were particularly sad since the warnings are there. Yet the thought still exists that it won’t happen to us. These thoughts change as you gain experience and you realize just how fast something can happen if you take your mind or eyes off the road. A few gasps of breath with your heart pounding while seeing a baby deer meet up with his mama, will make you realize the reality of what may happen in an instant. This is why more time offered behind the wheel for students who do not have the resources would be beneficial.

However, I want to talk about a distraction that many people don’t realize can be a problem, not just for teens, but for adults as well. Running late because you overslept or because time just got away from you can be a huge driving distraction if you are not cautious against it. Leaving on time is one of the best ways you can ensure that you are driving as safely as possible.

When you are running late and you have the thoughts of the rushed morning going through your head, you are not completely focused on driving. You might be mentally making a list of what you forgot, or what you need to focus on once you arrive at your destination. This can fog your judgments. As an example, you may not take a winding curve as slowly as you usually do on the mornings you leave on time. You could drift into the other lane if you are taking a curve too quickly. If you are speeding in an effort to get there sooner, you will not be able to stop as quickly as you are used to. A deer or a dog could jump out in front of you. As a driver you need to be focused the whole time you are operating a vehicle. One missed or rushed step could lead to disaster. If you don’t take the Adequate time to check your path is clear before reversing there is no telling what, or whom, you might reverse over. Too Many “if”s could happen, and you need to focus to handle them. You need to not only have your eyes on the road, but also your mind. If you add all the unknowns coupled with anxious thinking, it is a recipe for unsafe driving.

Hans Selye said, “It’s not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it.” Although he wasn’t particularly talking about driving while stressed, it is still true. We need to resolve to not drive stressed even when running late. We all run late, from time to time, but “making up time” while on the road is not the safest practice. It really isn’t even logical. It is far better to apologize for being late and learn to be more prepared in the future. Making poor decisions while anxiously driving could cause you harm or pain for your whole life. It isn’t worth the risk for only a few minutes once added up. Cutting into traffic when you would normally wait tends to happen when you are feeling the stress of running late. It is better to relax, drive safely, and face the consequences of being unprepared when you arrive at your destination. Remember, it isn’t just safer for you, but for everyone else on the road. It is said that proper preparation prevents poor performance, this is true in many aspects of life, including driving safely.