More than a license: Freedom comes with responsibility

I live in metro Atlanta where there are an average of 85 accidents daily and 425 deaths per year. I became one of those statistics. I had my first accident when I was 15. I was not at fault for my accident. The other driver was ticketed for following too closely. The light turned yellow with plenty of time for me to stop, but the driver behind me expected me to drive through it. She rear-ended me going 50 miles per hour. Luckily, there were no injuries, but the impact of the crash is a feeling that I will never forget. The sound of crunching metal and the subsequent whiplash put me on sensory overload.

This introduction to driving during my permit period taught me something that I will never forget: even when I make a responsible decision behind the wheel, I cannot control the choices of the drivers around me.

Prior to this accident, all I saw was freedom. I had my own new car and I was going to be able to go anywhere I wanted without asking for a ride. My accident shook me up enough for me to see that driving was about much more than freedom. It is also about responsibility. 

I was scared to get behind the wheel again, but we live in a very car-dependent area. My mom helped me build back courage to get on the road again. We started slow, driving neighborhood streets and eventually worked our way back up to the busier roads. I still think about my accident each time I drive through that intersection and I likely always will. It was a tough lesson for a new driver, to realize that not every driver on the road is as hyper aware of their surroundings as you are as a new driver. 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2,320 people were killed in crashes involving drivers aged 15-18 in 2024. These statistics show that distracted driving can have far wider impacts than just a damaged car. I take my driving responsibility seriously so that my passengers and I do not become one of these statistics. 

I am the oldest of three children. I have responsibilities to drive my siblings. I also drive my teammates to swim practice. My younger sister, who I drive to school daily, just got her permit. I realize the enormous amount of responsibility that is on my back each time I sit behind the wheel, not only for the safety of my passengers, but also as a role model to my sister and other younger drivers.  I thought I knew about the responsibility when I got my permit, but in actuality, I did not truly realize it until the day of my accident. I even passed my driving test with a perfect score!

I see it daily. People in a rush to get to where they are going. Red lights are run. Speed limits are ignored. School buses are passed. Texts are sent while driving. Hurry, hurry, hurry! 

I have never understood why someone would be in such a hurry to get somewhere that they would put countless lives at risk. In this day and age, traffic conditions can be determined with a swipe. Drivers have so many tools at their fingertips to help them plan. Pre-planning a route or checking traffic conditions prior to purring the car in drive is just as important as knowing traffic laws. Using tools available to you help reduce stress while on the road, allow you to focus on what you should be doing – driving, and not on what time you will get there.

I take my driving responsibilities seriously and implement what I learned in Drivers Education, as well as what my parents have role modeled for me. I understand that arriving a few minutes late is better than arriving unsafely or not at all. I don’t let peer pressure, frustration with traffic, or other’s actions influence my decisions. My family, my friends, and my friends’ families are all depending on me and because of that my choices reflect maturity rather than convenience. 

I am a much more confident driver now than I was at 15, but I am also diligent about paying attention to other drivers, obeying traffic laws, and not touching my phone while driving. 

My accident as a 15-year-old is not something that I would consider a great experience, but it gave me an early understanding of how quickly an ordinary drive to the grocery store can turn into a not so ordinary day. I learned that even though I was alert and obeyed the law, others around me did not do the same. I intend to carry this lesson with me every time I start the car. 

Based on statistics, the average driver will have 3 or 4 accidents in their lifetime. My responsibility will not contribute to another accident for me. One was enough!