The Responsibility of Being in the Driver’s Seat

Though many people have irrational fears such as being struck by lightning or being bitten by a shark, it is one of the most ordinary parts of our lives that can have the highest risk of death: driving. Though Driver’s Ed is a requirement for those under 18 to obtain their driver’s license, Driver’s Ed should be taken no matter what age someone is because as it’s proven everyday, driving is more than simply knowing how to start a car and put your on the gas.

For me, personally, driving has been a source of fear starting from the age of 6. Since both of my parents worked the night shift as servers, I stayed the night at my babysitter’s house. Once I woke up, I was so excited to see my mom who was scheduled to pick me up at 8:00 am. When the doorbell rang, my babysitter opened the door, my exhilaration faded into confusion upon seeing my dad at the door with a sullen face. After he talked with my babysitter, we walked to the car together when he told me the news that my mom had been in a car accident. I saw my mom later that day in the hospital, having broken her left leg, right arm, and had severe brusing all over her face and body. It was so unlike my mom to see her in such a weak state considering how tough and independent she usually was. Though I couldn’t process exactly what had happened at that age, I later learned that she was reaching for her phone to text my dad back after hearing her phone ring, causing her to look away from the road and swerve into some trash cans that were on the side of the road. Thankfully, she survived and recovered but seeing her healing process and all of the medecines she had to take affected me for years.

This made me afraid of learning how to drive, even though most of my friends would talk to me happily about passing their driver’s test and being able to go “wherever they wanted.” I didn’t want to end up like my mom did and I knew that driving was a much bigger responsibility than my teenage friends were making it out to be. However, it was taking the leap to take Driver’s Education that helped me feel much more confident in being able to handle my vehicle and knowing what steps to take to avoid an accident. The lessons I learned from taking the course, including the appropriate speed limits in various locations, how weather can negatively impact your driving, how to read road signs and act on them, and much more, made me feel more prepared to take on driving, even though my very first car was a large SUV that I was so nervous about driving through the city. By explaining the causes and costs of accidents, as well as the laws that are put in place concerning driving, Driver’s Education helps to make drivers understand that driving can have consequences if they don’t take the right precautions. Finally, by giving tips and instruction on how to handle certain situations varying from road rage to hydroplaning to an animal jumping in front of your car, drivers are able to act based on reasoning and logic rather than acting out of fear or frustration, significantly lowering their chance of getting into a life-threatening accident.

In order to put the lessons from Driver’s Ed into practice, it’s important to remember the steps that can be taken in order to prevent any sort of accident from occurring. First off, a lesson that is very dear to me is eliminating all possible distractions while you are in the driver’s seat, whether it be your cell phone, eating food, putting on makeup, or even talking too much with others in your vehicle. Due to the fact that in the United States, 8 people die daily due to car crashes involving a distracted driver (CDC), and that anything can happen in just a few quick seconds, it’s important to always keep your focus on the road ahead and to be aware of your surroundings rather than your attention being absorbed by something else. Another thing that the driver should do to prevent an accident is to follow the traffic laws, including going the appropriate speed depending on the area, reducing said speed in inclement weather, knowing how to properly switch lanes, and knowing who has the right of way, whether it be concerning a pedestrian or another vehicle. A third incredibly important precaution driver’s must take is wearing their seatbelt, no matter how short of a distance or what speed they are driving. With 63% of people who die in car crashes not wearing their seatbelts (DMVEdu.org), something as simple as pulling a seatbelt over you can prevent you from flying out of a car window in the event of an accident, saving your life. Finally, it’s important to note that it’s not always your fault that a car crash occurs. For this reason, driving defensively is incredibly important by making sure you always have an escape route when driving fast on the highway, not getting tunnel vision and looking everywhere around your car, and staying away from and reporting cars who appear to be driving irresponsibly.

Overall, after witnessing someone I love go through the pain that a car crash can bring, I am certain that driving is something that should not be taken lightly and that courses such as Driver’s Education can truly save lives.