Life is a journey – drive smart and enjoy the ride

Every new driver fears making the phone call to your parents after your first wreck. In April of 2021, I had to make that call and it was one of the most difficult things that I have had to do in my life. It was late on a Friday night after a high school baseball game.

Everything happened so quickly. One minute we are laughing and talking about the game and then everything stops in front of me, and all I see are the brake lights of a car disappearing into the front of my car. A driver ahead of us swerved into our lane and as the last car in our group, I was unable to stop in time. My car was a mess and while nobody was hurt, I was emotionally crushed. I called my parents and fought back the tears as I described the accident. After my dad arrived, he gave me a hug and asked if I was ok and said he was simply thankful that I was not hurt.

Teen drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 are the highest risk drivers for accidents and are nearly three times as likely to be involved in fatal crashes as drivers 20 years old and beyond. (citation #1) During 2019 in Texas, teen drivers accounted for 8% of the total accidents. (citation #2) That is a scary statistic when you consider that teen drivers account for that small percentage of accidents, yet they result in a fatality rate three times larger than the rest of all drivers.

The ability to drive provides you with so much freedom and it requires an incredible amount of responsibility. Obtaining your driver’s license is no small feat with the number of hours you spend learning how to drive and participating in driver’s education to ensure you are worthy of the privilege to drive.

Growing up in North Texas, ‘crazy drivers’ are common and unfortunately, I have seen many bad car wrecks. Drivers are drinking coffee, eating, smoking, texting, talking, and typing instructions into their mobile apps for directions. In 2019, 7% of all fatal crashes were related to distracted driving and that number is rising every year. (citation #3) Sometimes it is hard to wrap your mind around statistics, especially something that looks as low as 7%. Think of it another way. That percentage accounts for over 400,000 injuries and more than 2,800 lives lost in 2019. Those injuries and lives lost are twice the population of Orlando, Florida. If you have ever been to Disney World, think back to your last trip. Remember all of the people and the crowds? Now, remove the people and think about the impact and how this compounds itself year over year. That is the price of distracted driving and not appreciating the task of taking drivers’ education seriously.

Driving a car is not like riding your bike or a skateboard. If you wreck and fall off of your bike, you can just get up and try again. There are so many things that can go wrong if you drive irresponsibly and are not educated on the dangers of poor driving. Understanding the rules of the road is critical. Something that many young drivers fail to appreciate is the fact that they are operating a vehicle with an average weight just over 4,000 pounds and traveling at speeds as great as 80 miles per hour on the highway. How many young drivers truly understand the negative consequences that can result from distracted and poor driving?

Every new driver will complain about the practice and the tests, but these are non-negotiable requirements that we must take seriously in order to earn and maintain our privilege of driving. Many of us view the process the wrong way and we do not truly understand the importance of safe driving. The world around us moves at a fast pace and as technology advances, our phones and our cars provide too many temptations for drivers.

All it takes is one simple mistake to change your life and impact the lives of others forever. Know the rules, take your time, and remove distractions.

Life is a journey – drive smart and we can all enjoy the ride!

Work Cited

“Fatality Facts 2019: Teenagers.” IIHS, link

“Learn the Facts about Distracted Driving.” EndDD, 14 Apr. 2021, link

“Teen Drivers: Get the Facts.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control

And Prevention, 12 Oct. 2021, link