I have been driving for six years. In those six years, I have lost two friends to car accidents. My friends were between the ages of nineteen and twenty-two. They were responsible, loving, and determined souls throughout their lifetimes and they are desperately missed. Driving is seen as a way to get somewhere, but normally the responsibility needed isn’t taken into account.
One thing that I have noticed while living in multiple states is the differences between how people are taught to drive. In Texas, I have observed that drivers normally wait several, long seconds before moving at a green light. I assume it is because of how frequently people run red lights. Another difference that I have noticed is that drivers in Texas usually do not pull into the intersection while waiting to turn left even when they have a yellow arrow. In Utah, people drive extremely fast or extremely slow. This variance is caused because the city where I lived had a large percentage of senior citizens who relocated to the town when they retired. We also had an abundance of roundabouts and the majority of drivers did not understand how to use them and also drove through them at incredible speeds. Sadly, that thought process and the inconsistency of driver education have led to multiple deaths and car accidents. The education we get is not only different because of location, but it also applies to different generations. What I was taught six years ago differs from what my niece is being taught now and what my father was taught fifty years ago. We all get the same base, but what is built upon it is what causes the miscommunications on the road.
If we all changed our mentality towards driving, we would have safer streets. Most people drive every day and their route becomes familiar to them. So, it is hard to remember that one bad decision while driving can cause someone’s life to change drastically or come to an end. I was not the safest driver a few years ago, but I have been reminded again and again about why it is important to stay focused and to pay attention. Losing the people closest to me has been the strongest reminder. I think about them every day and every time I get into a car. My expectations for all drivers include not using your phone, not doing your makeup, and not trying to read the billboards by the freeway. And always remember to see the other cars on the road as lives and not just another vehicle. Drivers must be observant at all times and limit distractions while they are behind the wheel of a car.
A few years ago, I was rear-ended while I stopped and waited at an intersection. Another car was in the intersection, so I had to wait for them. The car behind me did not realize that I did not just stop and then go. Luckily everyone was fine, but we were pretty shaken up. I was told by the other driver he didn’t expect me to stop and that he dropped his phone and he tried to pick it up. I was less than two hundred feet from parking and going to my class. I was in shock and my service dog who was in the backseat was thrown into the center console. She seemed to be in some pain and I had to have her checked out. Luckily she was not badly injured and was only sore for a few days. This accident was minimal, but I worry about a friend of mine who has totaled 3 cars since she got her license. She tends to get distracted very easily. Luckily everyone has been fine in all of her accidents, but I am concerned about her driving ability. She failed her driver's test twice because she ran stop signs and barely passed on her third attempt. I have talked to her about being more responsible while driving, however, I have chosen not to get in a car if she is driving. I cannot control how others drive, but I can make decisions that are best for me.
Driving is not just a way to get somewhere. Being behind the wheel of a vehicle is a lot of responsibility. The most influential part of my driver’s education was when my insurance required me to take an online simulator course to receive a discount on my premium. It focused on being observant of signs, distractions, and hazardous situations. I believe that the simulator made me more observant when driving and saved me from accidents by making me more aware of my surroundings. Everyone is required to take classes and pass tests when getting their driver’s license, however, if everyone took a simulator course I think it would lessen accidents and deaths caused by car accidents. Cars can take away someone’s family member and it is important to remember that every time you get behind the wheel.