One Small Mistake

When I left my neighborhood, it felt like the car was no longer on the road and I lost control. The first time I drove by myself on ice, I was distracted thinking about a test I had at school that day. I did not realize how bad the conditions were since the roads in my neighborhood were covered in snow, hiding the sheet of ice underneath. As I took a right turn out of my neighborhood and onto the busy street, my tires slipped, and I started spinning. I was terrified. At first, I was immobilized, unsure of what to do. Then I remembered learning in Drivers Education to slowly take my foot off the gas, pull over once I stopped spinning, turn on my hazards, and call for help if I felt unsafe to continue driving. I did exactly that, and thanks to that training I did not get hurt and neither did anyone else.

In a world where everyone is in a rush, especially teenagers with busy schedules full of sports and activities, it can be easy to be inside your head and accidentally run a red light, cut in front of someone, or miss a driver in your blind spot. It may seem like no big deal, but this one small mistake can be the difference between someone living and someone dying. When I was taking Drivers Ed, my instructors drilled into my head over and over again that you need to be alert when driving. If they saw me losing focus on my driving or surroundings, they would call me out. As a result, I consistently became very aware of what was going on around me when I was driving, which led to my winter ice accident being very minor compared to what it could have been. Drivers Education is critical training that reduces the number of deaths and serious injuries by preparing drivers to drive in a way that prevents accidents but also to know how to respond when an accident is occurring. When a student takes Driver’s Ed, they acquire the skills and education they need to do to keep themselves and others safe and to drive in a way that anticipates what other drivers may do. For example, other drivers frequently run red lights, so educating inexperienced drivers to check the intersection, even if the light is green, can prevent them from getting into a major accident.

On top of knowing what to look out for, Drivers Ed is also important because it helps young drivers (like me) build confidence, which leads to fewer mistakes. When I started driving, I was incredibly nervous and uncertain about the lights changing as I approached the intersection, which led to me either braking hard or running a light. My driving instructors taught me how to look for patterns and stay calm, which made my driving a lot safer and me more confident. Instead of only thinking about what to do at the next light, I could focus on what the other cars were doing to keep myself safe. When students learn what to expect in Drivers Education, they become safer drivers because they can focus on what matters on the road. Being alert on the road can save a life, especially in a world where more people are engaging in risky driving behavior, which occurs in 45% of fatal crashes (NHTSA Releases 2020 Traffic Crash Data). If people can see someone coming before they are hit, they can take steps to minimize the damage, and Driver’s Education is crucial in helping students have the tools to be alert on the road.

I believe that the number of driving-related deaths can be improved through Drivers Education to ensure students minimize distractions in the car and stay alert. Right now, in Indiana and many other states students can take Drivers Education online, which means that often kids are skipping through content or not paying attention. When knowing what can happen on the road can save someone’s life, I think the ability to have Drivers Education offered solely virtually can be dangerous. To reduce driving related deaths there needs to be measures put in place to make sure online Drivers Education is actually being completed and that the student driver is learning the content in a way he or she can actually utilize it in a real world situation, like I did. Additionally, reducing distractions can also play a key role in helping with the number of driving deaths. Simple things such as putting driving mode on your phone, which blocks messages and calls when driving, or placing your phone away from you while driving to avoid temptation, can help a student be a more alert driver and less distracted. Another way to minimize distractions would be to teach techniques to allow students to remain calm and regain calm when driving. Teaching a sense of control while driving and how to regain control in a stressful situation, will help nervous drivers be less anxious and allow them to focus more on the road and other cars. Ultimately, we cannot prevent people on the road from making poor driving decisions, but if we prepare students for success in driving, in being alert in their own driving and anticipate poor driving by others through Drivers Education, we provide them with the ability to save a life.

To improve my driving and become a safer driver, I can continue to minimize distractions and be aware of any new conditions or situations I may face. For example, in the summer there can be significant road construction, so staying updated on where it is occurring can help me remain calm and focused if I am prepared to drive through it and aware of where traffic patterns may have changed recently. I can also make sure that if I am driving with my friends, I prioritize paying attention to the road over any conversation I may be having. When a friend is driving, I also can focus on the road and if they do something unsafe, like texting, I can point it out respectfully to help keep both of us safe. One little mistake while driving may not lead to injury or an accident, but when it really matters the training from Drivers Education can be the difference between life or death.

Work Cited

NHTSA Releases 2020 Traffic Crash Data. (2022, March 2). NHTSA. https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/2020-traffic-crash-data-fatalities