Comfort Leads to Catastrope

Comfort Leads to Catastrophe

We view driving as a right of passage, a route to freedom, and an exciting responsibility. We go through drivers ed classes, take as many permit tests as we need to pass, and practice with our parents every chance we get. To a majority, a tragic experience as a result of a bad driver is thankfully something unknown. We’ve heard stories but never has something hit so close to home as to shake our core into really being scared of the enormous responsibility that is driving.

I say thankfully with a catch. This sweet ignorance of the dangers of driving has softened our senses and has made us so comfortable with handling a car, that we ourselves have become bad drivers, unaware and quite frankly, uncaring. We shy away from the lessons and rules taught to us in our drivers ed and we decide that being on time to work or school is more important than our safety and the safety of the lives around us. Drivers ed, however, is vital to our survival on the road.

Drivers ed is the first stop between an excited sixteen-year-old and a one-ton vehicle to be used at their discretion. In our classes, we learn the language of the road, the do’s and don’ts, when to turn and when to stop, and it is in learning this silent but critical lingo that we gain the ability to communicate with the drivers around us. This contactless understanding between drivers is the foundation of the ebb and flow of traffic. Disregarding drivers ed means disrupting the melody of driving, resulting in catastrophic accidents and even deaths. It is unarguably a crucial means in reducing casualties because of driving.

To reduce deaths related to driving, it is clear that our society must do more to support and uphold the rules taught in drivers ed. Having caught a ride with friends and family members, I see that comfort is coupled with distraction. Music is the most frequent distraction I’ve seen. Changing a song, picking a new CD, and switching playlists require hands, eyes, and attention, all of which should be dedicated to the road while in the driver’s seat. To combat this, we should take steps to minimize distractions, no matter how small they may seem. For example, having a set playlist for car rides, choosing it before you start to drive, and committing to not changing music at all can make a huge difference in the safety of one’s driving. Before I turn on my car, I set the songs I want to listen to in a playlist and put it on repeat so that no matter how long the trip takes, I have my favorite music ready to listen to. Along with this step, I turn off my notifications and put my phone on the floor of the opposite seat so that I cannot reach it even if I wanted to. Eliminating these simple distractions is a powerful step in increasing our safety as drivers.