Your own Freedom but at What Risk

           When I first got my driver's license in the mail, the first word I thought of was “Freedom”. Freedom to drive myself to wherever I want, whenever I want. Freedom to take myself to the mall, to the park, to practice, and to school.  But one thing I never considered was the danger of the road. Not because I'm a bad driver but because no one knows how unpredictable people can be behind the wheel. You never know what someone might be going through, whether they're distracted, angry, or dealing with something that affects how they drive. That unpredictability is what makes driving dangerous, because even if you're careful, someone else's mistake can change everything in an instant. 

           Nowadays driver education can be taken ANYWHERE, online on an electric device, at Hybrid programs, community education programs, and even at your own high school. Of course, some come with a cost but it’s all worth it because the lessons learned through these programs help save lives whether you're a driver, passenger, or pedestrian. Drivers' education has been crucial over the past few years reducing what could have been thousands of deaths caused by driving. Not only does it help people understand traffic laws and recognize dangers in different types of climates, but it also teaches drivers how to operate a car safely and responsibility in any situation you might come upon. Without driver's education one wouldn't know the difference between double yellow and double white lines or how to handle emergencies such as skidding on ice or what blind spots even are. Even these little details set you up for safer driving and put you at less risk of an accident. 

           Although simple steps such as slowing down, not using your phone while driving and avoiding dashboard distractions can reduce the number of deaths there are every year. We all know that every driver has, at some point turned off the AC while going 65mph on the highway, grabbed their phone to check a quick message, or has had to sped up because they were late or had an emergency. The bottom line is that reducing the amount of driving deaths requires more than just slowing down, putting your phone away, or avoiding dashboard distractions. The steps it really takes to avoid all these accidents is patience. Patience to wait until you're done driving to check a message, patience to handle traffic without tailgating or speeding, and patience to stay calm instead of making risky decisions on the road. When 

People behind the wheel choose patience over impulse, they create safer conditions not only for themselves but for those who are on the road with them. 

           Thankfully my family, friends, and I have not been in a car accident which I am very fortunate for. However, I have experienced moments behind the wheel that have shown me how easily accidents can happen. In my case for example, a couple months ago I drove to Santa Barbara which is about two hours away from my place. After a few minutes of driving, I found myself to be stuck with cars that would not let me switch lanes. Anytime a driver saw my turn signals lit they would simply just speed up. Eventually, I got so impatient that I completely cut off the car on my left, knowing they weren't going to let me pass. My impatience could have easily caused a car crash or even led to conflict with the other driver. After doing it, I really thought to myself, what could have happened if the driver I cut off had been distracted. There is a real possibility of me not being here, writing about how important driver education is to finish and actually pay attention too. 

           Simple steps I can take to reduce distractions while driving is reminding myself what really matters. Thinking about how one small decision, like cutting someone off or speeding up can change my life or someone else's life in seconds. That thought alone helps me clear my mind and just slow down. Especially when remembering I have a whole life ahead of me. Leaving earlier to places can also help a lot. I’ve noticed that leaving during traffic hours makes people, including myself, feel more impatient. More cars, more accidents, and much slower traffic makes me not only want to get to my destination faster but makes me make stupid decisions. Knowing the times when traffic builds up and when it calms down is important and very easy. Simply just searching your destination on google maps at different hours of the day will give you an idea of when to avoid traffic. Although these steps sound cliche I think they are the best first steps to keeping people safe while on the road. 

           In the end, driving really is a form of freedom but it's also the type of freedom that comes with responsibility. Every choice made behind the wheel matters, whether it's slowing down, staying patient, or simply just reminding ourselves about those impulsive thoughts that can change every part of your life forever. Driver's education isn't there to fail people, it's there to give life lesson tools when on and off the road. Its purpose is simple, and that is to help keep everyone safe and ensure every driver, passenger, and pedestrian who leaves their home makes it back to their families at the end of the day.