The Stop Sign

It’s
no secret to those of us who obtain a driver license and drive a car
on a daily basis–being on the road is risky. From the time you step
into your car and start the engine, you are putting your life and
other’s lives in danger. Remember the first time you drove a car?
An instructor sitting by your side in the passenger seat and you in
the driver’s seat with full control of a machine you’ve only seen
other people use. The wheel feels slippery due to your sweaty,
nervous hands and your heart is pumping from fear of not reaching
perfection on your first try. Remember the last day of the driver
education course you took? You’ve learned the safety rules of the
road, had practice in the car that used to intimidate you, and have
received constructive criticism and positive feedback from an
instructor who has been rooting for your success since day one. You
have learned to be cautious and careful while operating a vehicle,
considerate of others when it comes to sharing the road, and fully
aware of the rules and safety measures the road requires of drivers.

Now
fast forward five years to a moment you and your friends are driving
to a party together. It’s dark, you’re in a hurry, and you see a
stop sign coming up with no oncoming traffic from both ways. What do
you do? What did that drivers ed course you took years ago
teach you? You reduce your speed and come to a complete stop because
safety should be your number one priority on the road. You look up
and there is a woman walking a stroller with a couple of grocery bags
attached to both handles who has just made it halfway across the
street and is now walking directly in front of your car. She gives
you a friendly wave and you give one back. You wait until she makes
it safely across the street and continue on with the rest of your
night.

This
is a true story of my experience feeling peer pressured by some
friends that wanted to save a few seconds of arrival time at a party
that wasn’t going anywhere. From time to time I will think back on
my experience and feel grateful I didn’t listen to my friends. If I
didn’t remember the lessons my drivers ed course taught me and
my own personal experience on the road, I could have killed two
innocent people that were crossing the street safely.

It’s
important to remember that every decision on the road affects the
outcome. Being a well educated person about road safety will reduce
the amount of mishaps and increase the amount of safe outcomes on the
road. Since that moment at the stop sign, one safety measure I have
taken is stopping completely at every stop sign I encounter while
driving. Whether this be in a neighborhood, on a dirt road, or even
in a parking lot. By following the rules of the road I ensure my
safety and the safety of those around me. I would rather see a thank
you wave for being courteous than an injured body due to
carelessness.