Drave Safely My Friends.

We unfortunately live in a day and age where distractions are ever present in our daily lives. None more so than behind the wheel. We hear the familiar chime of a notification on our phones, and we feel as if we must pick it up or miss the, often more than not, useless texts or messages that could have waited. I feel as if there has been a disconnect from what is learned about the “rules of the road” and the responsibility in following those rules. Every time someone gets behind the wheel, it falls on that person to understand the power they have over the safety of everyone, as well as themselves, and what it truly means to have everyone get home safely to be with the people they love and do the things they enjoy at the end of the day.

There are several things we can do to ensure that we do our part in keeping the death rate due to motor accidents low. Turning off any distractions, like a phone or a watch that have notifications, can keep the temptation of checking them very low. Another would be to have the phone on silent, even a phone on vibrate can be tempting to check. Having someone else control the radio, if traveling with another person could be beneficial in making sure the most attention is kept where it counts. Keeping to and really understanding the speed limit is another area of opportunity for many on the road. It’s easy for some of us to feel as if we are always in a rush to get no where as fast as we can. Personally, I’ve seen too many instances lately where senseless road rage ends with tragic loss, so being able to take a moment to breathe can do wonders for thinking with some clarity. If you are the subject of someone road rage, not engaging and doing what you can to avoid further anger from another driver is not just safe for you, but to everyone else that driver might put in danger if you should engage.

I have been a passenger in an accident. A friend of mine decided to pick me up for dinner. He was running a little late so he thought he would hurry and not only go about 20 miles over the speed limit, but also run some stop signs along the way. While I clung onto the seat begging him to slow down or stop to let me out, which he completely ignored, He pulled out his phone and began to text our party. I offered to type the text for him as we were coming to a red light, which I saw and apparently, he hadn’t. He looked at me annoyed and simply said “Dude chill! I got th–”, before slamming into a Ford Focus which had 3 children in the back. Most of what I remember is getting out of the car to make sure everyone in the other were ok, thankfully they were, apart from the driver with a very bruised arm and totaled car. The faces on those kids will stay with me the rest of my life. It affected how I drive to this day and refuse to drive with anyone who will text behind the wheel.

Being able to remove ourselves from constant distractions would help build better habits behind the wheel. Creating a healthy understanding that sometimes people will not be as forgiving or patient as you, will aid in opportunities for a person to make quick decisions to remain safe. When traveling long distances, taking breaks allows for someone to reset and relax before getting back onto the road. Also, anytime I feel tired or driving at night, I will pull over or if traveling with someone that is able, have them complete the drive. Times and vehicles change, we are sharing the road now with automated self-driving cars, so gaining more knowledge in what’s required for those types of cars is beneficial and paramount for the safety of everyone.

Driving for me is a lot of fun. I enjoy driving around with my friends and family. Seeing new places, getting lost and seeing more new places against my will, but most of all experiencing the privilege of being able to do what some simply can’t. There’s a freedom in driving, something almost meditative about it. It saddens me when sometimes that is taken for granted. We forget the feeling of getting behind the wheel for the first time, and the joy in hearing the words “Congratulations you passed” when going for our license. The moment I see dangerous behavior behind the wheel, it scares me. I want to go home safely, I want to see the people I love, I want to see the world. I know you do too. Drive safely.