The Responsibility of Being Behind the Wheel

The idea of driving is intimidating; spending years upon years of your life as nothing but a passenger, simply someone waiting to get from point A to point B and doing whatever in the meantime, and suddenly being presented with the concept of you being behind the wheel and it being your responsibility to transport yourself and others that are with you safely is shocking, to say the least. You don’t even know how to turn on the windshield wiper... And which pedal is for braking, anyway?
This is part of why properly learning how to drive, especially through a Driver’s Ed course that is designed to be straightforward and easy to comprehend, is crucial for the safety of the driver, the passengers, and anyone they share a road with. No one could figure out how to drive, at least safely, all by themselves. In addition to solidifying the knowledge of road rules and traffic signs, the novice driver should learn other aspects of driving that go beyond technicalities; defensive driving and only doing so if in the right state of mind or state of sobriety, for example, are just as important as remembering to stop fully at a stop sign.
While I don’t think I’ve ever been involved in an accident, I have witnessed friends driving irresponsibly. It’s obvious no one has bad intentions, but it’s ultimately putting everyone in the car in danger. Getting your permit as early as possible is probably a good first step towards safe driving, as the more practice and experience you get behind the wheel, the less likely you are to make a completely preventable mistake. In addition to practicing with a teacher, driving with a parent or an older sibling can make it so that you’re less tense when starting out. Other measures that can be taken towards safe driving include doing a short self-check for signs of fatigue, anger, or any state of mind that would be unsafe for driving, checking the car for technical issues, and being mindful of the responsibility driving entails.
In order to prepare for a drive, I always give myself a short pep talk before starting the car. I remind myself that a vehicle is more than a means of transportation, but instead something much more serious. When I took a Driver’s Ed course during my freshman year, this sentence stuck with me: “A car is a lethal weapon.” This is something we often overlook; cars can end someone’s life in a moment of distraction, and thus great responsibility comes with driving one. Reminding other drivers that one slip-up could result in their own deaths or someone else’s is a powerful tool for maintaining mindfulness when driving. Shooting your friend a quick text while on the highway may seem like a simple and inconsequential action, but those two seconds that your eyes are off the road could result in a tragedy, and that is not to be taken lightly.