The smell of clean leather, the way your back nestles in this captain chair. Power steering, power alignment, yes power in your hands. For such a big piece of machinery, such small hands control it. The adrenaline you feel when a car inches up next to you at the red light. Thoughts run through your head; are you trying to race me? No, maybe not race me but you most definitely want to skip me. Little do they know; you have 160 on the dash when most cars have 120. Ooh, what does this button do? Speed mode huh, what a perfect opportunity to use it. Your hands begin to perspire, you feel jittery anticipating the light turning green. You peer over at the driver beside you on the left and they just so happen to link eyes with you. Challenge accepted! The light turns green, barely, your foot immediately lifts from the brake to the gas, and you jump the light slightly. Your heart is pounding from the excitement because you “won.” As you look in your rearview, you noticed something you did not see prior. They had their left blinker light on. Oh, they were in the turning lane the entire time and for some reason, you just did not observe the street signs and arrows. You were simply too engulfed with the power in your hands.
What if you had a different outcome? What if a pedestrian thought like you and felt they could beat the light changing not anticipating you jumping the light? Or what if there was a car on the right you never noticed because you were too fixated on the car on the left, and the car on the right jumped the light with you causing you to swerve onto oncoming traffic. The true power is in defense. Driving with the thoughts of everyone else on the road. Not just the drivers, but also the people walking around, the district you’re commuting in, rather business of residential, the signs or absence of signage. The lights and crosswalks, construction work perhaps or a first responder who just got a call in traffic all need to be taken into consideration.
I personally was able to take advantage of driving classes, before taking my driving test at the age of 16. Now over 15 years later, I still reap the benefits of the importance of a driver’s education. Just like any other skill, you learn it intimately prior to being evaluated on it. When you drive with the intent of others, you are saving lives and reducing the number of deaths as a result of education in driving. Driving is a science, for you must converge your physicality to this machine and move as one. In order to do so, there must be a new way of thinking and rebuke the drunkenness of power of machine, but instead drive with the golden rule in mind. Do on to others as you would want them to do on to you.
No one enjoys getting into a fender bender, let alone a serious accident that results in a hospital stay or worse. So, plan your commute prior to driving, know where you are going and your intended time to get there, before pulling off, make sure your phone is connected to your car and place your phone in your arm rest to decrease distractions. Another step and by far the most crucial is to enjoy the journey. Your vehicle is able to take you places your feet more than likely cannot. So, observe what is around, you may notice a new bistro you’ve never seen before, while simultaneously driving more cautiously unbeknownst to you.
Driving should not bring anxiety, it should bring joy, peace, and gratitude. I had been in an accident, preparing to merge on to the expressway, the fear and anxiousness I felt was from my own doing. Feeling rushed that the car in front did not merge quick enough in my opinion. But I realized rushing only got me delayed. Driving is already cutting your commute time significantly in comparison to public transportation or walking. So, pack your patience before you get behind the wheel and rely on your senses to mimic this powerful machinery in your hands. Check your mirrors and blind spots frequently and often. These are ways to not only becoming a safer more responsive driver, but also a happier one.
We as a society, are always looking for ways to find more joy. Why not find joy doing something you do more than likely every day, driving. Remember there are rule breakers, so drive with the care of others not just the rules in mind. Be grateful for you are safe, comfortable and dry, venturing into the world with power in your hands.