Recently, my peers and I have come into the age where driving is the next big step towards our independence. For some, this is an eye-opening time of their lives where a whole new world of freedom opens up to them. Others, however, shy away from this integral part of life because of the responsibility and risks that driving potentially contains. Driving isn’t just a method of getting from place to place, it’s a learned skill that requires cooperation, focus, and respect to truly master. Learning how to drive is one of the most important skills a person can learn, especially so because of the trust bestowed upon new drivers. By driving, you’re not just in charge of your own life — you’re responsible for everyone else you encounter on the road, as well as any passengers you may have aboard. Because of every factor, ensuring that every new driver is well-informed and tested beforehand is a crucial part of keeping this new part of life safe and secure, for new and experienced drivers alike.
Since I’ve learned how to drive, I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for the systems we have in place for transportation. Finally figuring out how the large intersection by my school works was a life-changing moment for me — no exaggeration. The unspoken rules in place of when cars should go versus when to stop are like something of a dance, which is beautiful to comprehend but terrifying once someone misses a step. Once I finally understood at least the minimum of where to go, it was like a whole new world opened up to me. I didn’t have to go out of my way to find back roads or route my GPS to avoid highways. Gaining the confidence and knowledge to deal with other drivers in the real world felt like upgrading from a tricycle to a real bike. However, not all people have the same experience grasping the status quo as I did.
Recently, a dear friend of mine had an unfortunate accident while driving home with his family. Upon coming to an intersection, my friend didn’t see the stop sign which would have informed him the road he was on did not have the right of way, so he continued onward. Unluckily, there was another car from the main road heading through the intersection at the same time he was, and the two collided. Neither my friend nor the other driver got injured, thankfully, but both cars were totaled. I reached out to my friend the day it happened and he truly seemed upset and remorseful. This accident was not a fault of my friend’s driving skills — it was merely a lack of knowledge he had about the rules of an intersection, as well as the obscurity of the road sign signaling him to stop.
This incident blatantly highlights two key factors that need improving within our current driving framework: driving etiquette and road maintenance. Targeting the latter is probably the simplest — making sure road signs are clearly in view of drivers on the road should be a simple task for most municipalities. Other aspects, such as potholes, are easy fixes as well with the right allocation of funding. Eliminating potential risks not only makes the roads safer and easier to navigate but also gets rid of the anxiety newer drivers could be faced with when coming into contact with new obstacles.
The first issue is the more nuanced of the two and requires more in-depth solutions. Interestingly, when talking with people in my age group, most of them that are of driving age feel intense anxiety when driving, especially in regards to highways. When I first started learning how to drive, my mom told me how enthusiastic she was to get her license. As soon as she was able to, she would drive every day, leaving the house to hang out with friends, shop, or simply drive for leisure. However, it seems like this outlook has shifted within my generation. Some of my closest friends don’t even have their licenses yet — mainly because they find driving “too scary” and would rather take public transportation and give up their freedom just to feel a sense of comfort they could easily learn.
My cousin, who I’ve been close to my whole life, has still not gotten his permit, despite all of the benefits doing so would give him. The defining reason? Anxiety. He lives on a busy road with not many quiet streets for him to gain his bearings. Even after taking the written test, he still finds himself unprepared for the perils that come with driving in a more congested area. More education or practice in high-speed scenarios could reduce this negative perception he and so many of his peers hold. Making the roads more accessible to learning drivers is something we should all strive for, and road etiquette should be the key to safe driving — after safety itself, of course.