Name: Harmony Marsh
From: Natchitoches , LA
Votes: 0
Your Life is in My Hands
“Parking lots are one the most dangerous places to drive.” I recalled the words of my father as I looked at my freshly dented driver side door and the broken glass of the shattered back windshield of the girl who had just backed into my vehicle. Though initially strange to consider, it’s not really surprising that 1 in 5 car accidents occur in a parking lot, an atmosphere usually
without posted speed limits and often neglected arrows indicating directions. Thankfully, my story ends with both parties completely uninjured and my first glorious experience of dealing with battling car insurance companies. Since the day I got my learner’s permit, both of my parents have continued to drill two things in my head that have heightened my road awareness
and increased my defensive driving skills: “everytime you get behind the wheel you are in a life or death situation; don’t trust any other drivers.” I think the biggest danger that plagues the minds of too many drivers is an over casual perspective of the incredibly dangerous task of being behind the wheel.
I would like to believe that every driver on the road is equally devoted to protecting themselves and each other. The reality is quite the opposite; our road is littered with drivers who might be distracted by a number of factors, unqualified to operate the vehicles they are in, or under the influence of any number of substances. In short, you can’t really know who is on the road with you at any given point, and this is why we cannot trust anybody on the road. Let me
clarify– I don’t mean this in a way where we call into question the personal integrity of anyone behind the wheel of a vehicle. Moreso, I mean that we cannot expect that everyone on the road is going to follow the rules all of the time, whether intentionally or unintentionally. As defensive drivers, we have to be hyper aware of what’s going on around us at all times, and we need to be prepared for the possibility that drivers make mistakes. What will you do if someone neglects
that stop sign or red light and continues into the intersection? Someone pulls out in front of you unexpectedly? Someone changes lanes and cuts you off? As drivers, we must understand that the way we respond to situations like these either protects or harms not only ourselves but the other people on the road with us. The responsibility of driver’s education courses is to teach young drivers to be aware of their surroundings and respond appropriately and quickly to situations like these. The foundation laid by efficient driver’s education combined with the continued efforts of the defensive driving graduates of these programs will make the roads a safer place for all drivers.
Even some of the nation’s “best” drivers break the rules on purpose from time to time. One example of a rule that it is almost normalized to break is following the speed limit. Drivers seem to brag about the high speeds they reach on their daily travels and how they reduce their
time spent on the road. But does speeding even work? Let me offer a better question– is speeding effective in a way that is actually higher reward than it is fatal risk? When traveling at high
speeds, 70mph or more, going ten miles per hour over the posted speed limit will save you only one minute or less over the span of ten miles. However, the faster you drive the more likely car crashes become. Even at lower speeds, say 40 mph, going ten over the posted speed limit will
save you at most three minutes over the span of ten miles. Car crashes as low as 35 mph (or even lower) can be fatal for those involved. Speed limits serve as one line of defense for a safer road, but here’s the reality: all driving is dangerous, even when we are going the speed limit. The financial consequences of speeding can be extreme, but the decision to take the financial risk is ultimately up to the individual. However, no driver should be willing to take the increased risks of car crash and fatality in order to save mere seconds on their daily trips.
More than anything, I think it is so important for young and old drivers alike to understand that driving is serious business. When you get behind the wheel you hold in your hands your life, your passenger’s lives, and the lives of the people on the road around you. Safe driving starts with you; you cannot rely on the people around you to drive safely in a way that protects you, but you should always be driving in a way to protect yourself and others. Driving demands a high level of appreciation for the value of life, and every driver on the road needs to understand the role that their driving plays in the protection of human lives. We have to keep driver’s education curriculum under close observation for the benefit of our young drivers. We have to take accountability for our individual driving habits and whether they endanger and protect those around us. So slow down, speeding actually won’t help you. Be careful in parking lots, expect people to break the rules. Stay alert and be ready for people to do unexpected things with their vehicles. Don’t let anyone else drive “safe enough” to protect you, and take safe driving into your own hands, literally. When we are on the road together, your life is in my hands, and that is something I take very seriously.
