The idea of getting into a car crash with metal burning on the side of the road with its eroding smell and the slicing of human skin is a concept that never fails to terrify me. Your family, friends, and all the people you adore and care for just to be gone at 45 mph in 2 seconds is the most grueling nightmare even to be exposed to with heavy machinery vehicles. It was the most nerve-racking thing to ever step foot into Driver’s Education that’s offered at my school. My hands shook thinking about having them on the car wheel or putting my foot on the gas. In every corner of my mind, I always wanted to second-guess myself. However, Drivers Ed swayed my impression of the idea of driving, understanding the complexities that come with it, and navigating through a crucial and realistic way of learning. The most important takeaway from the knowledge I’ve gained from Driver’s Ed was that you need to understand speed. At 70 mph, you have a 25% chance of surviving a car crash. At 70 mph, you have no time to react. At 70 mph, you can’t break on time. Maintain speed control, stay sober, don’t cut the turn too wide or too narrow, stop behind the sidewalk in intersections, check blind spots before you change lanes, and keep up with the traffic speed on the highway. I listened attentively to every lecture and took great pride in overcoming my anxiety and taking control of the wheel. Since then, I have become a safe driver. Every time before a drive, I glance to make sure my passengers have their seatbelts on, I have my lights on, I know what to do in a crash emergency, and I am psychically and mentally prepared to drive. Remember, the importance of understanding how to drive and knowing the laws of the road significantly helps prevent the risk of a crash.
The first crucial step before you step in the car is to look in your car windows, around the car, and under the car. Understanding your overall surroundings better helps the conditions of what your car is undergoing and making sure you don’t have illegal or dangerous things in your car that would distract your driving. The next step you should take when you are in the car is to remember the acronym LSMILE. L - Locks, S - Seat and Seatbelts, M - Mirrors, I - Ignition (start the car), L - Lights, and E - Emergency break. You should also remember this order when you leave the car. When on the road, you should always understand the conditions you’re under. If it’s raining, you ideally should slow down below the speed limit and use your windshield wipers to properly see. When it’s snowing, you should be slowing down below the speed limit, warm up your vehicle before you drive, have a first aid kit handy, and have an ice scraper with you. Most accidents happen at an intersection or on the freeway. It’s crucial to remember the acronym MSMOG. Before you ever change a lane, check your mirrors, signal ahead of time, check your mirrors again, look over the shoulder for your blind spots make sure they’re clear, and switch lanes safely. Lastly, you should ALWAYS be well-rested or sober before you step inside a vehicle as it is the number one reason why drivers will get into car accidents and contribute to the death toll.
When I thought I had overcome the anxiety of driving, this summer tore down my confidence. One particular night, my stepmom couldn’t find the keys to her car, frantically tearing up the house in desperation. All she knew from the previous night was that her car was parked differently than how she remembered she parked it, piquing her suspicion of me and my brother. She understood I was a safe driver and wouldn’t drive her car without permission, so she only had one person to suspect—my 14-year-old brother. It crossed my mind that my brother would say illogical things, like how he would leave the house if he got in trouble for the last time. I didn’t believe the words he was saying, understanding that adolescence can be the darkest time of someone’s life. Instead, he took both his words and the car keys with him. The next thing I knew in the morning, is seeing what was left of my family standing in the kitchen. They appeared so solemn and on edge, so asked what happened. My stepmom told me that my brother and her car were missing and that she received a call at 6 AM when officers found her car. She then showed me her phone, the front end of the car caved in by a foot. The car collided with a pole in a church parking lot, the windshield was smashed, and there were hand prints on the car that indicated that whoever was in the car, got out. my dad, my stepmom, and I all believed that he was severely injured and that my brother should spend some time in jail. This was the last time we were playing these pity party games with him. After my family left to drop my stepmom off, I stood in my brother’s room. Wailing and crying in anger while on a call with my boyfriend, feeling the weight of my family break apart in front of me.
My brother was found, and he didn’t sustain life-threatening injuries. He was in the hospital for a short amount of time and did not go to jail. He currently lives with my grandma. From this experience, I’ve taken much more caution in how I drive. Some steps I've taken to make myself and others safe on the road. I note how I should keep my hands on the wheel, how I should maintain speed, how I should safely brake, and maintain my distance up until I can see the tires of the car ahead of me touching the asphalt, remembering how my brother got into a car each time I’m too close. Instead of letting my fear get to me, I keep a cool head and practice safety before I even start the car, remarking my memories from Driver’s Ed. And remember, keep your seatbelts on, don’t drink and drive, keep your lights on, signal when you have to make a lane change, and turn off distractions like your phone.