To Drive or To Die

“The best car safety device is a rear-view mirror with a cop in it.” These words from Dudley Moore portray an idea that would normally scare the average teenage driver. In all honesty, seeing a cop in a rear-view is a blessing in disguise. Alright, you may get a ticket tagged with a fine and your parents may be disappointed in you (only for the moment). But the one thing that is guaranteed is that you are alive.

Now we all drive like maniacs from time to time, I’m guilty of doing that. I went through drivers ed and sat through similar lessons like you all have (I say similar because I took my class in Hawaii). Did I pay attention? Almost always. Did I apply what I learnt in class on the road? I attempted to but never really. Am I glad I took the class before taking my road test? Now that I think about it, I'm grateful that I did. Without the knowledge I gained from drivers ed, I would have most likely skidded off interstate H-3 and down Ko’olau mountain.

Education is important. This is a common saying used by many parents and it is true. Drivers ed grants a student power over their vehicle and the road he or she may take. It is important to understand that without knowledge of the rules of the road, drivers would be put at a greater risk. I am not saying that with this knowledge there is no risk. There are many deaths caused by drivers who text and drive or drivers that are under the influence. Drivers know that it’s against the law, yet many do it anyways. But as the saying goes, “Knowing is half the battle”. A driver may know what the rights and wrongs are, but it is their responsibility to follow what is right. If you drive like hell, you’ll certainly get there.

What can help reduce the driver death count? Many actions have contributed to lowering the count such as police officers doing speed checks and check points. There are apps that turn off notifications of a persons phone while said person is driving. There are also good friends/family that care for your well being by not allowing you to drive intoxicated or distracted. With all these and there are still deaths on the road. Many overlook self care or self preservation. If emotions are unchecked, an emotional driver can drive as recklessly as a drunk driver. If a driver is sleep deprived or drowsy, sleep becomes the priority, not driving. All it takes is the wrong actions at the wrong time. Driver death is avoidable, you just have to be aware of yourself and others.

Remember how I mentioned that I almost skidded of Interstate H-3 and down a mountain. That happened because of the feeling during that moment. I’m driving one car, my friend is driving his. It’s around 2am and we’re talking on the phone through our car’s bluetooth. My friend, being the wild one, proposed we raced all the way to the mouth of the mountain. I know I said yes but looking back at it, that was a mistake. It’s raining so the roads are all slippery and being on a mountain there’s sharp turns and high winds. It's also 2am and there’s no one on the road besides us. So we speed up to about 90 - 95 MPH and we’re blazing down the interstate. A turn was coming up and thinking “I’m a cool guy. I can pull this off” I turn my wheel to the left in an attempt to drift. My car skids and my heart sank. I though “Holy shit I’m gonna flip”. Luckily for me my car spun out while my friend zoomed ahead. I’m glad there was no one beside us on the road at that time. Not only would I hurt myself, but I would have hurt other road users as well.

What can I do to become a better driver? All I can say is that I can be more aware of my surroundings and practice defensive driving. If I watch out for myself and drive within the regulations, I will be fine. All I have to do is drive to my intended location. Other drivers are doing the same. No one will get hurt if we all stick to our own business. How can I help other drivers be safe on the road? First of all I can drive safely. If I drive safely on the road, then I am doing my part to keep not only myself, but other road users safe as well. There is a saying in Hawaii that drivers know by heart. That saying is “Drive with Aloha”. Aloha means a lot of different things such as love, peace, and compassion. When someone says drive with aloha, they mean to drive with love for yourself and others, drive with peace and not emotional stress, drive with compassion for the other road users. Driving is always rewarding. The reward is that you get to your destination safe and sound.