Driving Lessons I learned as a Missionary

In the summer of 2020, the world was a crazy place! The COVID-19 pandemic had just swept through the world, shutting down businesses, closing schools, and changing the world in a way nobody could have imagined. I found myself packing two suitcases, preparing to begin serving as a full-time missionary for my church for the next two years.

Prior to leaving on my mission, I took a driver’s education program. Duane Shell and Ian Newman, of the Nebraska Prevention Center for Alcohol and Drug Abuse at UNL, reviewed the driving records of 151,800 Nebraska teen drivers who obtained their provisional licenses between 2003 and 2010. Their researched showed that the drivers who had taken a driver’s ed course were involved in fewer crashes: 11.1% of the driver’s ed group, as opposed to 12.9% of those who hadn’t taken a course, had been involved in a crash. Taking this course was a jumping off point for what I would learn about driver safety as a missionary.

An important part of my missionary service is traveling to where I need to serve. While in some areas I rode my bicycle miles a day, other places I was lucky enough to have a car to drive. The church takes the responsibility of its young missionary drivers extremely seriously! An executive from the firm that insures the church’s drivers and vehicles said, “In the approximately fifteen hundred accidents we investigated during this three-year period, not one of the drivers was in what we call a ‘moral hazard involvement.’”

I have learned several tips and guidelines from my experience as a missionary to reduce accidents while driving.

First, have a companion, friend, or family member ride “shot-gun” if possible. This companion should be alert and on the lookout for any obstacles. This person is available to assist the driver. They can get out of the car to assist in parking by getting a better vantage point. I was in an accident when I was 16 years old. I was backing out of a driveway at night and hit a black car parked in the road. If my friend had gotten out to guide my back up, that would not have happened. They can also keep one another alert by watching for signs that the other may be getting tired or distracted.

Always wear a seat belt. Do not begin driving until all passengers are seat belted as well.

Avoid getting on the roads during rush hour traffic. The drivers tend to be more aggressive and there is a lot of quick stopping and going that can result in a traffic accident.

Complete a basic check on your vehicle every day. Make sure lights, including brake lights, are working properly. Check tire pressure. Make sure windows are clean and clear.

Plan your route before you ever leave the garage, parking lot, or driveway. Taking your eyes off the road to consult a GPS system can be the moment tragedy strikes. Following the GPS is a great job for your co-pilot sitting shot gun. When alone, make sure the GPS map is giving directions out loud for you to follow without needing to take your eyes from the road. Pull over to a safe spot if you get lost rather than trying to address your mapping issues in a moving car.

Do not follow too close. Keep plenty of distance between you and the car in front of you. You always need to be able to make a full stop if the car in front of you suddenly stops. When stopping in traffic, watch to make sure that you can see where the back tire of the car in front of you touches the road. When a large vehicle is driving ahead of you or there is bad or freezing weather, be sure to add additional distance from the vehicles ahead on the road.

Keep the car clean of garbage and clutter. At every destination gather any trash and dispose of it. Rolling objects like a bottle or ball can roll and wedge under the gas or brakes. In an accident, objects could be launched through the car. Trash in the windshield area can cause visual obstacles.

Always take the keys out of the ignition and lock the doors when leaving the car. This can keep those out of the vehicle who should not be in it.

Fill the tank when it is half full. Running out of gas can be deadly on the road. The vehicle could be hit by another car. A missionary could be struck while attempting to move the car.

While some may think these guidelines are overkill, these are the driving guidelines we live by as missionaries, and they make a quantifiable difference in the safety and livelihood of our young men and women.