A Close Call Should Be Enough

One of the scariest things about a close call on the road is how fast a normal situation turns deadly. At one moment everybody is going where they want to go. The next, someone is looking at their phone and doesn't know how fast they're going or they've run a red light. I've had lots of close calls similar to this. Since I've had so many close calls, I know that being a good driver requires more than just knowing how to drive. Being a good driver requires being aware of what's around you, knowing the rules of the road and caring about how your actions affect everyone else who is on the road with you.

My family also has an obligation to be careful. My grandpa was a police officer. He saw many dangerous situations on the road that ended tragically. While my close calls were just close calls, my grandpa's experiences show me that sometimes there are no do-overs. An event that one family narrowly escapes can forever change another family's life. When I think about that, it makes it hard for me to ignore bad driving habits as "harmless," even though there haven't been any accidents yet.

When I think about the obligation to drive carefully, I think about how much control we have over others' choices. We can follow the law and still find ourselves dealing with someone who doesn't. That doesn't mean that our choices aren't important; it means that our choices are more important. A well-informed driver knows when there are possible dangers, knows how to avoid causing further problems and knows why traffic laws exist. Those laws protect real people like passengers, pedestrians and other families in cars around us.

Some of the close calls I've experienced involved people using their phones and not knowing how fast they were going. What concerns me is how easy it is for someone to believe that checking their phone won't hurt anyone. Viewing a text message might only take a second or two; however, during those few seconds, the driver needs to focus completely on the road. During those few seconds, traffic could slow down, a light could switch or someone else could come into the path of the car. Checking a phone might seem urgent; however, nothing is more important than keeping control of a moving car safely.

Speeding increases the chances of distraction. A driver whose eyes are glued to a screen might not realize that he/she is exceeding the speed limit based on current road conditions or other traffic. Also, a driver might not realize when he/she needs to slow down. I believe this demonstrates why driver education should teach students how different hazardous behaviors can combine. Distractions and speeding are frequently related issues. One poor decision can create a situation where a driver has limited ways to respond when something goes wrong.

I have also had close calls where people ran red lights. An intersection functions properly when drivers follow identical rules. When a light switches to red, other people expect oncoming cars to stop completely. Someone who runs a red light puts everybody else in a position they shouldn't be in. It doesn't matter if the driver is distracted, impatient or attempting to get somewhere quicker than usual. The end result can be disastrous. Getting to your destination a few minutes earlier isn't worth putting somebody else's ability to get home safely at risk.

These close calls have changed my perspective regarding my responsibility as a careful driver. A close call doesn't necessarily need to result in an accident to demonstrate significance. A close call can indicate that something needs to change. I don't want to dismiss these close calls simply because no one was hurt. My grandfather's experience further supports this idea: a reckless decision doesn't become acceptable just because someone escaped the consequences. Learning from a warning is better than waiting for an injury or death before learning becomes apparent.

Driver education is vital because it provides individuals with a base for making wiser choices before facing dangerous situations. Knowledge of road signs and traffic laws is required; however, understanding why they exist is equally important. Students should learn how distractions affect their perception, why maintaining a safe distance between cars is essential and how speed affects their capacity to respond. Students should also understand that passing a driving test represents the beginning of their obligations. Every time they operate a car, they must maintain good driving habits.

In order to reduce fatalities on our roads, individuals must translate their knowledge into daily practices. Drivers can keep their phones out of reach, plan their route before leaving, obey speed limits and stop completely when required by traffic lights. Drivers can allow sufficient time for their travel plans so that delays don't justify taking risks. Individuals can also show their commitment by wearing seat belts, refraining from operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs/alcohol and avoiding operating a vehicle while overly tired to do so safely.

I can use these lessons by giving priority to paying attention every time I drive. I can monitor my speed, keep sufficient space surrounding my car and refrain from assuming that other drivers will consistently act responsibly. If I miss a turn or receive a message, I can postpone responding until I am in a safe place to respond. In addition, I plan to continue learning instead of developing overconfidence. Even brief trips and familiar routes demand my full attention.

As a passenger, I can contribute by expressing concern when someone uses their phone or operates a vehicle carelessly. While discussing this issue might seem uncomfortable (especially with a friend), avoiding expression of concern will not increase safety. I can volunteer to handle navigation/messaging duties so that the driver can concentrate solely on controlling the vehicle. Most importantly, I can clearly state that arriving at our destination safely is more important to me than arriving quickly.

The close calls I have had and my grandfather's experiences as a police officer illustrate that operating a vehicle is a shared obligation among all of us. Each vehicle carrying passengers contains people with aspirations, relationships and futures. Being a cautious/well-informed driver entails remembering these people every time you make even small decisions. We don't need to witness tragedy before recognizing what is at stake. A close call should be sufficient to draw our attention