Making it Home Safe

Driving is a milestone that most teenagers eagerly anticipate, symbolizing their growth and coming of age. From those initial moments behind the wheel, whether it be in an empty parking lot or cruising through the neighborhood, to finally passing the driver’s education test and proudly holding that license, it’s a journey etched in our memories. I’ll never forget those early days, marked by my inexperience and the occasional panic it caused my parents—like when I stepped on the brakes a little too hard. Back then, it was easy to dismiss their worries as exaggerated. I mean, sure, we were young and inexperienced, but could something as simple as learning to drive in a controlled environment really lead to life-threatening accidents?

While it’s easy to dismiss concerns as our parents being dramatic or even think of ourselves as invincible, the statistics tell another grim story. In 2020 alone, a staggering 2,800 teens aged 13–19 lost their lives on the roads of the United States, with an additional 227,000 suffering injuries (according to the CDC). It’s a harsh reality that demands our attention. Inexperience stands out as a key factor contributing to these tragic outcomes. As young drivers, we often struggle to identify hazardous situations or make split-second decisions that could avert accidents. Moreover, factors like disregarding seat belts, succumbing to distractions, speeding, and engaging in substance abuse further compound the risks we face behind the wheel. When so many odds seem stacked against us, doesn’t it become our responsibility to equip ourselves with the knowledge and skills necessary to ensure our safe return home?

That’s why driver’s education is so important. It’s not like any other class where we memorize facts to pass an exam. Instead, paying attention in driver’s education can truly mean the difference between avoiding accidents and becoming victims of them. These classes provide us with the information we need to become responsible, safety-conscious drivers. I can still remember my first driver’s education class back in high school, particularly the impactful videos shown during that first week. While the specific content might vary from one class to another, those videos left an indelible mark on me. They were not intended to frighten us; rather, they aimed to portray the real-life consequences of mishandling a motor vehicle. Seeing the potential dangers and harm that could be caused to oneself, passengers, and innocent bystanders served as a wake-up call to me and encouraged me to pay attention to everything being taught. It reinforced the importance of being mindful behind the wheel and gave me the determination I needed to never be the cause of an accident or someone else’s pain. The information learned during a driver’s education course becomes the starting point and the foundation on which we start building safe driving habits. With teen drivers carrying the weight of inexperience on their shoulders, this knowledge acts as our shield, protecting us on our journey toward becoming experienced drivers.

Driver’s education covers a range of safety practices that are beneficial to both experienced and inexperienced drivers. Many of these practices align with what responsible drivers already do: buckling up before starting the engine, ensuring all passengers do the same, refraining from alcohol or drug use before getting behind the wheel, and resisting the urge to let distractions take our focus away. However, there are other things that can be done that not all drivers think about. For instance, driving at a speed that we personally deem safe rather than blindly following the traffic flow is crucial. It can be easy to just follow the flow of traffic and the speed that other cars are going, but we have to remember that we need to respect our own skills and stay at a speed we feel safe at (with respect to traffic laws).

As I learn to be a safe driver, one thing that I’ve learned to do to maximize my own safety while driving is to never overestimate my ability to multitask while driving. It’s tempting to believe that a quick glance away from the road to adjust the radio or air conditioning won’t cause harm. But experience and the driver’s education class have taught me that even a few seconds of distraction can have grave consequences. To make sure that my focus remains on the road, I’ve made it a habit to either pull over when necessary or wait until I’m at a complete stop before addressing any potential distractions.

Riding with friends who got their licenses before I did showed me just how dangerous the road can be and the importance of prioritizing safe driving habits. It was scary to witness some of my friends doing dangerous and risky behaviors while I was riding with them, and it only made me concerned about how they drove when someone wasn’t in the car. I would often witness them texting or using Snapchat while driving, speeding up to get through yellow lights rather than slowing down when it was safe to, or engaging in other risky behaviors. Knowing the potential consequences that their actions could have, I took it upon myself to advocate for them to drive safely. For example, when several friends were riding together, I made sure that they didn’t distract the driver. In some instances, I even offered to hold their phones, preventing any temptation to text while driving and allowing them to maintain focus on the road. While it may seem that I was becoming an overdramatic parent to a newly licensed teen, the truth is that I just wanted my friends to make it home safely.

In conclusion, driving carries tremendous significance in the lives of teenagers. It represents a crucial step toward independence and adulthood. However, we can’t overlook the statistics of teen driving and the risk that we face. Rather, we should do our best to make sure we are educated and are driving responsibly when on the road. Driver’s education provides some of the knowledge we need to navigate the road safely; the rest we gain from experience. By embracing these lessons rather than only memorizing what’s needed for tests, practicing responsible behaviors, and advocating for safer driving practices, we can actively contribute to reducing accidents and ensuring our well-being, as well as that of others on the road. We should each remember that each journey should end with everyone making it home; it is only through our joined efforts to be responsible drivers that we can make the roads safer.