My Promises of The Road

Keisha likes to sing to me every single day. And although the same tune continues to annoy me, I would be lying if I didn’t say I appreciate it. If I’m having a bad day or even exciting news, she always welcomes me with the same angelic song. Now don’t underestimate her. Although she sings her happy, soulful tunes, she will throw a fit whenever she feels neglected or disrespected. Her song is a representation of a promise we make to each other every time I chose to use her. A promise that states that she will help me get to where I need to go, if I promise not to neglect the rules of the road or put her at risk by driving unsafely. My car, Keisha, means a lot to me but my life and the lives of others mean more. So that promise doesn’t only apply to me and my car but also to me and all the other drivers on the road. To fulfill this agreement, it starts before even opening the driver’s car door but in a classroom with a driving instructor explaining the rules of the road.

Driving education isn’t the most fun part when it comes to the steps in finally getting on the road. However, it is the most important. Knowledge is such a powerful tool that we can use to avoid dangerous situations, especially when it comes to driving. In the United States, more than 32,000 people lose their life due to a car accident. Sadly, it is either because of the lack of knowledge of road safety or the ignorance to not follow them. Driving education not only demonstrates the rules and regulations needed to be a skilled safe driver, but also enforces responsibility amongst all drivers. There are duties that we take on as drivers ensuring that everyone is safe. When said duties are not done or followed, then it causes problems and risks lives. As a teenager, I notice way too many teens thinking speeding to 100 mph or being on TikTok while driving is cool or even use those to actions to validate how good of a driver they are. We should continue to promote the importance of driving education to not only be cautious of the lives of others but potentially your own life as well.

There are many steps that we can take to reduce the number of deaths related to driving. The first thing will be understanding the rules of the road including road signs, the operation of a car, defensive driving, and more. This can ensure that future drivers know what to expect and how to operate before even getting into a vehicle. Secondly, we will take the knowledge we learned and apply those skills on the road. By practicing safe driving, these rules and procedures become habits. Another way to also reduce the number of deaths caused by driving is by asking ourselves every time we are about to drive a vehicle, if you are in the best condition to drive. There are too many people who overestimate their skill in driving, thinking it’s okay to drive under the influence or while tired. Drunk driving is one of the biggest causes of these deaths by accidents. Speaking up when we notice a drunk person trying to drive and preventing yourself from making that mistake can be a big step in reducing these deaths. As a teenager, I also notice the use of peer pressure from other teen drivers stating things like “you drive too slow” or convincing you that you need to drive under the influence. Regardless of what is said about your safe practices, we as users of the road must continue to educate and encourage our friends, families, and peers to drive safely and continue to practice good driving.

There have been many instances where I witnessed reckless driving, especially with my closest peers. My father used to always say “don’t do this” before doing something illegal or unsafe when it came to driving. Even my elders would use their years in driving as an excuse to drive recklessly. I never thought anything of it before because I had never experienced a car accident. I wouldn’t know how dangerous this type of driving is until I got into a scary accident with my father and my 2 little siblings. It was dark and I called for my father to pick me and my siblings up from my aunt’s house. Getting in the passengers’ seat and talking to him about my time at my aunt’s, I noticed a smell from is mouth that for some reason continuously was there. So much so that I felt like I didn’t have to say anything about the alcohol he drank will driving because he always made sure my siblings and I got home safely. Until this one time, after he picked us up, he ran into a bunch of cars on the road and into a tree in someone’s yard. It happened so fast to a point where I was unsure of what led us to that point but all I wanted to know during that time was if everyone was okay. I heard my little sister crying and I saw her holding her head. The ambulance took all of us to hospital to get checked out and thankfully my sister only had a concussion. I know that situation could have ended a lot worse than it did. From that day on, I promised myself I will never drive under the influence or let someone else under the influence get behind a wheel if I can help it.

The way I can continue to better myself as a driver is staying educated about the road and always practicing safe driving. By doing what’s right and promoting others to do the same can avoid tragic accidents. Always following the road signs and doing the procedures needed to ensure you and your passengers are safe is another way I can better my driving. As a driver, we need to stay aware of the potential danger of the road so we can be defensive and act before an accident can occur. Critical thinking is important when it comes to driving strategically. My grandmother also told me that I’m not only driving for myself but sometimes other people. Although you can practice safe driving, we must also to aware of drivers who are not and act accordingly. Driving might seem like just a common task people do every day however it is a lot more than that. Driving comes with the responsibility to avoid distractions and follow the rules needed to ensure everyone’s safety.