Driving Smart

Driving Smart

Every day we get behind the wheel to get where we need to go. It’s a part of everyday life and absolutely integral in participating in anything that life has to offer. Our society wouldn’t be half of what it is today if it wasn’t for the open road. Opting out of driving isn’t an option for the majority of us out there. We have to go to work and the grocery store, as well as stuff we want to do like seeing family and going on trips. And why wouldn’t we want to drive? The freedom that comes with getting your license when you’re 16 is exhilarating. Now you can do whatever you want, whenever you want. Driving can give you the ability to live your life the way you want. But what most don’t think about is how easily it can take that life away.

Driving is more dangerous than most people care to think about. While we might vow not to text and drive, we are all guilty of checking a text or changing the song on our phone while driving. Since we drive so much and most of the time, we distract ourselves during driving with no consequences, we get more and more confident doing it. A quick text turns into paragraphs typed out on the road. Checking our hair in the mirror at a red light turns into doing a full face of make-up on the highway and getting a coffee in a drive-thru turns into eating a salad on the way to work. After a while, we normalize driving distractions and think we can handle more and more. In reality, our chances of an accident are just increasing and increasing and then, you may never enjoy a coffee again. Educating drivers is so important because people think the rules never apply to them. It’s okay if they send a quick text at the wheel if it’s important. Educated drivers who understand these rules apply to them will think twice before picking up their cell phone. Just getting the driver to think twice before distracted driving can save their life and the lives of the people on the road with them.

Driver education is about so much more than distracted driving. There is so much going on behind the wheel and so many different things to be aware of. A driver needs ample time to get to their destination and safe road conditions to do so. They need other drivers to be driving smart and everyone in their vehicle to be acting appropriately on the road. Everyone needs to be playing their part and if there is something wrong, it’s up to the driver themself to take action and fix the issue. Proper ways to handle situations one can experience on the road is vital to the success of the driver. If someone in your car is distracting you, you need to be able to ask them to stop even if they are your friend or a respected adult. If you see an accident on the road, contact the authorities. Don’t just assume someone else has called emergency service because if nobody calls, people can be seriously injured. One wrong decision on the road can lead to a devastating consequence.

Uncovering the rules and realities of driving with teenagers before they obtain their permits should be implemented. Educating teens before they become drivers is so important in teaching them to drive safe, but the trick is getting them to remember and apply it. As they get more and more comfortable behind the wheel, they forget the rules that have kept them safe in the beginning. Exposing them to real situations they will potentially find themselves in could be key in reducing the number of fatalities from car accidents. Talking with a variety of drivers who share their experiences, such as truck drivers, bus drivers, motorcycle drivers, young and old drivers could also prove helpful. This could be implemented by local fire departments, EMT providers, or local townships via short but powerful sessions open to all 15-year-olds. School districts could also offer this on the weekends or in the evenings where parents and teens attend. All drivers could benefit from these lessons. Regardless of how it is implemented, sharing this information with videos, live presenters or discussions could begin to open more conversations on the seriousness of safe driving for everyone.

Just recently I was involved in a car accident myself. On my way to work, I lost control on a bend and slid into the other lane. It was a snowy day, so the roads were icy, and I did a complete 360° turn into another car. While I don’t remember exactly what I saw and how the accident transpired, I can remember how I felt. That is something I never want to experience again, and I wouldn’t want anyone else to experience. I was absolutely terrified the moment I realized I had lost control. That kind of fear is something I can’t even describe. The panic that hit me when I realized I hit another car shot adrenaline into my system, got me up and running to the other car. I am so blessed that she was okay, and nobody was hurt. I will be thankful every day for the rest of my life for that. I’m still not exactly sure what happened during my accident. The lady driving the car I hit expressed she saw my car slide on ice into her lane and there was nothing she could do to get out of my way. As much as I want to blame the road conditions, it is the driver’s responsibility to be in control of their car. Knowing the road conditions that day were going to be rough, I should have given myself more time to get to work and driven a lot slower. Especially around bends, you have no idea where ice is going to take you. Back roads aren’t the best option in snow, so take longer routes if it means the roads will be clearer. Take the time to think about your trip before you get on the road, because it could be your last time doing so.

While I was very lucky during my accident to come out with everyone healthy, that isn’t always the case. Driving is a danger every single time and having one scary experience will change your way of thinking about it. It’s important to be a cautious driver but you can’t be a timid one. Being scared to drive is extremely dangerous and having confidence will help you in uncertain situations. Just remember that there’s a lot on the line out on the road and you don’t want to be responsible for ruining someone else’s life. We are all working together out there to get to where we’re going, so let’s be sure to look out for each other.