Driving Home for Christmas

It was our first time seeing snow, pure white snowflakes dancing down from the sky. Late at night, I pointed out the choreographed patterns to my delighted parents. A Christmas miracle. However, in the one moment of distracted gleefulness, another car tried to cut in front of us and my dad slammed the brakes, missing the other vehicle by inches. I had never been as scared. I had never seen my mom so mad. She directed us to go back to my aunt’s house immediately and the car fell silent, the sense of danger hanging in the atmosphere.

Driving requires focus and attention on the road at all times. Sometimes, we get distracted by other passengers or by the GPS constantly rerouting or even an incoming phone call. Even the slightest diversion can cause us to miss roads, signs and incoming vehicles. If you are the passenger, try to minimise the distractions for the driver. If there’s a passenger with you, let the other person or people handle the situation. In urgent scenarios, try to pull over or wait until you can pull over. It is not worth checking your phone while speeding down the freeway. Over 424,000 people were injured in distracted driver incidents in the United States in 2019. That text message can wait one second. Your life cannot.

Moreover, it is important to continue driver education throughout life. Learning does not stop once you have received your driver’s license and it’s essential to continue to practice to drive safely with new vehicles across new terrains and in new places with different driving practices and regulations. This is not just the responsibility of the driver, but the government too. Most states have laws requiring drivers to reapply for their licenses to ensure that they are fit to continue driving on the roads. However, not all states have maximum age requirements, which can put the vulnerable elderly population at risk of accidents and crashes. A few years ago, my grandparents were rear-ended by another car and had to be taken to the hospital. Since their eyesight was weaker and reaction time was slower, they had not seen the car coming from behind. Luckily, they were not in critical condition but still sustained minor injuries and back pains. Therefore, there must be a standardised maximum driving age requirement in order to protect citizens from accidents.

In extreme weather conditions, like the one I faced, my parents were not used to the slippery and snowy terrain and so while it is extremely vital to educate others on how to drive through snow, it is also important to drive with care and caution. It is tempting to go past the speed limit in an empty street, but you truly never know what you can encounter. Even experienced drivers can face difficulties in these circumstances, so it is important to accelerate slowly and with care, sticking to the speed limit at all times.

Furthermore, it is never a wise idea to drive under the influence. It is a well-known rule repeated by parents all the time, yet, many people still believe that they can drive if they are only mildly intoxicated. The grim reality is that every day about 32 people die in the United States from drunk driving incidents. 32 preventable deaths. If you are buzzed or have been drinking, it is imperative to make alternative arrangements to go back home, by allocating a sober designated driver or booking through a reliable cab-riding service. If you are in the presence of a impaired driver, it is vital to remove them from the road by reporting them to law enforcement. This can prevent 32 daily deaths.

An often overlooked element is driver fatigue. My father was driving late at night, which does not just mean decreased visibility, but also the possibility of fatigue, especially since he was driving throughout the afternoon. It is important to take breaks to recharge through long and tedious driving journeys. When setting out on road trips, try to plan breaks along the way to allow drivers to stretch their muscles, grab a snack and relax for a while. If possible, try to rotate drivers throughout the ride to avoid fatigued and sleep-deprived drivers. One blink and everything can be gone.

Lastly, stick to common safety protocols! Look ahead, keep young children in the backseat, and wear your seatbelt at all times. That’s right; simply wearing your seatbelt properly can reduce the chance of being killed in a car crash by 60 percent. These facts are taught to all students in primary school, but we must implement this into practice by being role models and setting an example for the future generations.

As a driver, you should be attentive, not under the influence or sleep-deprived. You should be following basic safety protocols and regulations. You should be educated and in fit condition. You have the duty to drive responsibly, safely and with care. If not for yourself, think about the other passengers, pedestrians and drivers. Their family and friends await them as they return home for Christmas.