A Green Light

The green light began to shake. A little shake, mimicking a gentle earthquake, and yet a day was changed. I was laying in the backseat as my seventeen year old friend drove me home at rush hour. Everything felt peaceful. My aversion (or rather, severe fear) of driving had recently been overturned, after countless hours spent behind the wheel, panicked in every way possible. Driver's education had been something I deeply dreaded for months - my internal dialogue knew it was the right thing to do and that my driving had become more accurate and focused. Yet every moment spend behind the wheel resulted in shaky breaths and sweaty palms. In the backseat of the car, I felt safe. The unusual movement of the traffic light piqued my interest. Curious, I shifted over to glance at the intersection meters away. 

A collision is something that is often heard about, yet the impact of the crash itself is visceral and unmistakeable. The congestion on a southbound road at 5 PM becomes a mundane detail of a daily commute. A busy intersection becomes filled with the tired eyes of countless people. Maybe they are worn down by endless to-do lists or the thought of a messy house waiting for them. Maybe this results in scans and blind spot checks to be forgotten. There is a specific type of nausea that is only felt when a person sees something absolutely horrifying, something they cannot fully process. The instant I glanced out that car window, I felt it myself.

A green light is a signal to accelerate. Yet, everything seemed to slow down. Motor vehicles are an advancement in human technology, one that enables humans to speed up their daily lives. But collisions also cause so much harm: physical, mental, financial. Whether due to clear negligence or simply uncontrollable factors, they are a constant of vehicular use. On that October evening, the intersection filled with thick smoke. A man came stumbling out of a destroyed grey sedan, frantically trying to open the doors of a white, T-boned SUV split in half by a traffic pole. The green light above told drivers to go, yet no one did. There is a particular feeling of paralysis only felt when someone alive witnesses a life-changing, near fatal event. The frozen intersection was a perfect example. The green light continued to shine and shake from the sheer impact. No one moved.

No one thinks it will happen to them. Yet I was frequently told, sitting in the car of my driver's ed instructor, that every driver, no matter how competent or vigilant, will experience a collision at some point. I was faced with the fact that in order to drive, I would have to accept the very thing I feared most. As the shock reverberated through my chest, the smoking cars served as a reminder of this statement. 

Finally, someone pressed the pedal. I found myself travelling past the wreck, the green light glowing amber behind me. Seconds later, the phone app in my hand displayed the three numbers no one ever wants to call. My friend driving the car was visibly shaking. The words "Oh my god" echoed in the silent vehicle, over and over again. I whispered to pull over as she turned left into an empty parking lot. A driver distracted is exceptionally dangerous. If losing the time means preventing a careless mistake, any driver, educated or not, should hopefully pull over every time. Danger exists not only from others, but from a drivers own recklessness and negligence.

Although collisions are often inevitable, numerous strategies exist to prevent them. Being a conscious, educated driver using these strategies not only increases your own safety, but the safety of others on the roads. Whether it be a car of teenagers travelling to a sports tournament or a mother on her way home, collisions are never something desired. The advantages of driver's education are felt by any and all commuters. A glance at the side mirror, a flashing signal or a press of a horn become habits that change the trajectory of lives. The importance of these routines, frequently instilled and emphasized by driver's education, cannot be understated. 

The narrative of this story may seem repetitive. Yet any driver most certainly has their own story of near catastrophe, whether it be on a residential avenue, urban intersection or empty freeway. Driver's education aims to build life-long safety habits, hopefully minimizing the fatality of these interactions. In that driver's seat, every individual is faced with a choice: be negligent, or be safe. Even if the green light shines, make the choice to check again. You never know what may be racing towards you.