I had no idea how much growing up was watching the world slide by outside the window, sitting in the passenger seat in quiet respect, while letting someone else do the driving to protect me. For most of my life, driving seemed far away, something for adults or older teenagers. But the nearer I moved to my 18th birthday, the more it seemed like something I should be doing. Suddenly, I was asked to drive. I was to be confident. I was to be aware of how to protect myself, but also the people who might be riding with me. That expectation hit me harder than I could ever have dreamed.
Teen driver safety matters because it is not about how good you feel driving. It is true that you are still learning in a world that doesn't stop just because you are new. On the highway, one little error can take someone's life. That is not hyperbole. It is a fact that most people take it for granted until they just so happen to look up into the back-up mirror and see the red and blue flashes or the sound of the sirens in the distance following an accident.
Driver's education is what keeps those life-altering moments at bay. It's not all about passing the test. It is about learning the habits that will make us serene in a tempest, alert when we are sleepy, and vigilant when everything around us is not. To me, who gets apprehensive and wants things done right the first time, driving school helped me feel somewhat more comfortable. I remember the teacher reminding me over and over, "Stay calm. You are in control." It is something that I held on to. I read it repeatedly in my mind every time I practice. I think that sentence prevented me from panicking at least more than once.
Learning, though, is not enough. Teenagers behind the wheel are surrounded by distractions—cell phones, loud music, snacks in the passenger seat, friends goading us to "hurry up" or "drive a little faster." It's simple to get caught up in trying to seem cool or seasoned. The biggest challenge I have is not learning the rules but having the courage to follow them even when nobody else will. I have been a "slowpoke" myself in the past. I have had someone roll their eyes at me for coming to a complete stop before a stop sign. But I remind myself that it is better to be embarrassed and safe than sorry and injured.
I remember sitting in the back of the car with a friend and her older cousin. He had just gotten his license a few weeks before. He listened to music very loudly, barely looked at the road, and texted at every red light. When we got out of the car, I remember thinking, "That could have gone so wrong." I sat silent for the entire ride. I did not want to sound dramatic. But I then told my mother that I never wanted to travel again in his car. She did not ask. She simply nodded. Now, looking back, I think she had already seen enough to not need an explanation.
What I learn from that experience is that it is alright to speak out. So is being truthful to yourself regarding what you can do. As teens, we tend to play like we know better than what we actually do. Driving is not a game, however. It's alright to say no. It's alright to pull over. It's alright to be truthful when you are afraid. Being truthful about your fears is what keeps you alive.
In order to promote safer driving, I believe that teenagers need to have more honest-to-goodness discussions—not sermons. There might be school workshops where we can discuss the pressures, we all experience on the road. We might have guest speakers who have seen firsthand the effects of car accidents. Teenagers need to know what can happen, but also how not to. Safer driving can be normalized by peer-led clubs or groups, even on social media. Teenagers are more likely to listen to each other than they realize. If a friend will not drive distracted, others are more likely to do the same.
Driver's education can also be provided by schools and communities. Not everyone has the money for private lessons, and there are areas where they do not have programs available in the community. That leaves more poor drivers out there. Offering free or discounted classes, mentorship from older to newer teen drivers, and even school credit for completing safety programs would be life changing.
Personally, I try to be the kind of driver that sets the pace. I would like to be patient. I would like to slow down and be on the lookout not just for myself, but for the people that I transport on the road. I think about the young girl at my school who was in a car accident because she was distracted. I think about how easily it could have been me, or someone I love. I carry that reminder with me each time I put the key into the ignition.
Teen driver safety isn't just a public issue. It's personal. It's about protecting the future. I am still learning, and I always will be. But with each decision I make to choose safety over speed, caution over pride, and focus over fear, I know that I am becoming the kind of driver this world needs.