The Importance of a Second

Driving is something many people begin to see as a normal part of everyday life. We drive to school, work, the grocery store, and to visit friends and family. Because driving becomes such a routine part of life, it can be easy to forget how much responsibility comes with being behind the wheel. A vehicle is not a toy. My father has always reminded me that, when placed in the wrong or distracted hands, a car can quickly become a dangerous machine capable of seriously hurting or killing the people inside it and those around it. Driver education, personal responsibility, and awareness of other drivers are all important parts of reducing the number of deaths caused by driving.

In my experience, driver education is important not only because it teaches someone how to drive, but also how not to drive. My instructor spent a significant amount of time discussing the dangers of driving under the influence, driving while tired, and driving while distracted. He especially emphasized the dangers of distracted driving. One lesson that stood out to me involved calculating how long it would take to stop a vehicle traveling at a certain speed after the driver noticed a danger. We considered reaction time and how much distance a car could travel before the driver could even begin to slow down. Seeing the math helped me understand how quickly a situation can become dangerous. Even looking away from the road for a few seconds can mean traveling a significant distance without actually seeing what is happening in front of you. Driver education can also teach new drivers to think beyond their own actions. Being a safe driver does not mean that everyone else on the road is safe. A driver may be following the speed limit, paying attention, and obeying traffic laws while another person is texting, speeding, driving while impaired, or simply not paying attention. Safe driving therefore requires constantly watching the road and being prepared for situations that are outside of your control. Good driver education should teach students not only how to operate a vehicle, but also how to recognize and respond to potential danger.

Several steps could be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving. Stronger consequences for repeated distracted driving offenses could discourage people who continue to make dangerous choices. However, punishment alone cannot solve the problem. New drivers need to understand the consequences before they make a dangerous decision. Driver education instructors should make dangerous driving a serious and repeated part of their curriculum rather than simply mentioning it once.

Driver education could also provide more instruction on how to respond when unexpected situations occur. Students could learn how to regain control of a vehicle if it hydroplanes or begins to slide on ice. They could learn how to respond when another driver is behaving recklessly, what to do when a traffic light is not working, and how to safely approach a crash, broken-down vehicle, or unexpected object in the road. Knowing what to do during an emergency could help a driver remain calm and make safer decisions. 

I understand the importance of this because I recently witnessed a motorcycle accident firsthand. That day, I had to drive my dad's truck because I had accidentally left my keys somewhere. I was not used to driving a vehicle that large, so when I approached a multi-lane stop sign near a friend's car, I decided to wait behind her rather than pull up beside her to make sure I did not accidentally scratch her car or go too far into the other lane. My friend turned, and only seconds later, a motorcycle without its lights on entered the intersection and turned directly into oncoming traffic. I had to stay at the scene long after because I witnessed the accident and needed to explain what had happened to the police. I also helped call for an ambulance and contacted a family member who was a nurse and was able to get there quickly.

What affected me most was realizing how easily I could have been involved in that accident. If I had not forgotten my keys, that morning I would have been driving my own car instead of my dad's truck. I probably would have pulled up beside my friend rather than waiting behind her, and I could have turned at the same time she did. That small difference could have put me directly in the path of the motorcycle. What had seemed like an inconvenience that morning suddenly felt like a blessing that night. I realized that I had been only seconds and a pair of car keys away from being involved in a life-altering crash.

That experience made me reassess the responsibility that comes with driving. I have an amazing opportunity to drive to school and work every day, but that opportunity comes with serious responsibilities. I can become a safer driver by silencing my phone while driving because no notification is more important than my life or the lives of the people around me. I can set my music before putting my car in drive and keep the volume low enough that I can still hear what is happening around me. I can always wear my seatbelt, follow speed limits, maintain a safe following distance, and make sure my vehicle's safety features are working properly. I can also stay aware of more than just the cars directly in front of me. I need to watch my surroundings, including the sides of the road, for pedestrians, cyclists, animals, or anything else that could suddenly enter my path. I can avoid driving when visibility is especially poor when possible, wear my glasses so I can see clearly, and double-check my mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes or turning. Most importantly, I can remember that being a good driver means expecting that other people may make mistakes.

Driving is a privilege that gives people freedom and independence, but it is also a responsibility that should never be taken lightly. Driver education can give new drivers the knowledge they need, but ultimately, each person behind the wheel has to choose to use that knowledge. My experience witnessing a motorcycle accident taught me that a safe outcome can sometimes depend on decisions that seem insignificant at the time. Because of that, I want to approach driving with the understanding that every trip matters and that my choices behind the wheel can affect far more than just me.