The importance of learning to drive and to do it correctly cannot be underestimated. As a teenager, I looked forward to getting my license just like everyone else. I think we need to step back and understand how important it is to get it right. We need to take the time and not be in such a hurry to drive, but rather focus on the confidence and skills and mindset it takes to be a good driver. In my family , my parents focused on driving and gaining the skills with confidence. From a very early start they emphasized the need to be aware and safe. We have a written agreement to not use cell phones , drive with too many friends , use loud music or ever drink and drive. We understand the implications of doing this , and we have agreed that for the privilege of having a license that we must not do these things. We also respect our parents’ decision to not rush into the whole situation without us having much experience or situational driving comparisons to add to our driving experience also. They believe that in learning , we will gain that confidence and also that taking time is not a bad thing. There is a maturity in some that it might take a little longer and in some a little less, but finding what works for you is best. It is best to keep in mind that you will have all your life to drive and so that being in a hurry is not worth the risk.
I have seen many people on the road driving while using their cell phones, or driving distracted and also have witnessed the effects of this. Just recently while on a trip out of town, we saw a driver go completely off the road and then swerve to recover and they almost had an accident. I have seen drivers going too fast , compromising the quality of their driving and making it almost certain that they would not be able to react if they had to stop suddenly or make a quick decision. I have seen drivers putting on makeup while driving and even drivers reading a book while driving. All this behavior is not only deadly, but it is dumb. This has made me more aware of the importance of being focused and making the right decisions. There is no phone call or song on the radio, or book that is worth killing myself or another person on the road. Texting and driving , I see all the time as well. This to me is a guarantee that at some point a person will get in an accident. There is no way you can concentrate and text or know what you are doing while driving. Driving takes all your senses and all of your concentration. I feel strongly about parents advocating this to their teenagers. My parents have always stressed this. They also do not allow music while we are training to drive. They feel this helps us to stay focused and keep our eyes and minds on the road.
For me, the steps I can take to be a better driver include, paying attention and staying focused. I never make the decision to drive if I am not 100 % in the right mindset. If I am tired or have had a rough day , I do not elect to drive. When I am driving I remind myself to slow down and think. I believe that training ourselves to stay alert and focused makes a difference. I also still learn with my parents, because they have so much experience. I am inexperienced and so I need to practice and learn to become the best driver that I can be. Mostly to be defensive in driving, because even if you do everything right yourself, you may have to react to another person’s mistake. That requires you to be alert and in the moment every time you are behind the wheel. It takes smart decisions and the ability to keep your mind on what you are doing and that takes time. I don’t feel that rushing helps and so I am willing to go slowly and learn the right way . I feel that in the end, it will be better to have taken my time to do it right. I will have more confidence, but not be cocky and I will learn so much more by not rushing . Driving is not something that should ever be rushed. I also do not take this privilege for granted . I will always be humble in the fact that this is something that we must take very, very seriously .