Calmly Teaching & Living Safe, Mindful Driving

Having well-educated drivers means that they will understand the importance of following the rules of the road, not be distracted, and generally make smart decisions while behind the wheel. My name is Jude Prather and I care a lot about safe driving as a Business Major at Illinois State University with a passionate focus on working in the automotive industry. Because we live in a society where cars are a normal part of everyday life, it can be easy to forget the dangers of driving and that you are in charge of a two-ton vehicle capable of going over 100 miles per hour. I could guarantee that is not what everyone is thinking when they turn the key in the ignition. The true nature of driving a car is extremely dangerous but not everyone makes their decisions based on this. If you were to describe to someone from the renaissance what a car is/does and why we use them, they would tell you you’re mad. Metal cages on four wheels, barreling towards each other at inhuman speeds on narrow strips of pavement. If we all treated cars like this and drove, or chose not to, with that in mind we would see a decrease in accidents and deaths annually.

I think that there is one mistake in the way that driver’s ed courses teach. They use statistics and show you horrific scenes that make you think “if you touch the steering wheel your head will explode.” If we made an effort to break down, in the simplest terms, what the dangers are and the physicality of cars, it could accomplish the same end goal without scaring young drivers. This is better than scared inexperienced drivers that will choke up in a dangerous situation. Another thing that goes untouched is being able to stay in control of the car. Too many times, I’ve seen cars uncontrollably fishtailing down the road because they don’t know how to handle the momentum of the car, how the springs will rebound, or how much traction they have. Teaching skills to stay in control of the car when something unexpected happens would be a helpful addition to the way driver’s ed courses teach and an important step to reduce the number of deaths related to driving.

One one occasion I was pulling up to a stop light with my best friend as my passenger and I got distracted for not even one second, and thought I had braked well enough. But the car in front of me hadn’t fully come to a stop and I didn’t realize they had stopped sooner than I had anticipated. I ended up smacking the back of the car in front of me. Luckily, the other driver was ok, the impact was so slight that there was no damage to my car, and the only damage to their car was a plastic bit popping out of place in the rear bumper. I was disappointed in myself at the moment. Looking back now I’m very glad for the important lesson it taught me. Because I know how much worse it could have been. It was the best way for me to realize how truly important being present to the road is while driving.

The biggest step I take is using common sense, even before I start driving. For example, I know my own body and I know when I’m tired so I use that to judge whether or not I should be in charge of a two-ton vehicle capable of going over 100 miles per hour. And I know, at least for me, when I’m in a bad situation on the road I’m not thinking of all the lessons that I “had to sit through” to become legally certified to drive, but being present to the road and prioritizing staying in control of the car. I’m reacting with what I think will best be able to keep me and my passengers safe at that time. If I am using common sense, even before I start driving to determine if I should be behind the wheel and then being present and in control I am not just being a better driver for myself, I keeping others safer on the road too. Lastly, I am also being an example of safe driving to my peers, younger newer drivers who watching how I drive, and even to older adults. And hopefully my example and influence can prevent even small accidents like the one I was in, and help those in my life become safer drivers.