Lessons Learned on My Boo Jeep

“Lessons Learned on My Boo Jeep”

By Drew Smith

My parents gave me my first car on my 4^th Birthday. It was a 12 volt, 2 seater Jeep made by Fisher Price. It was a beauty in powder blue with a convertible top. I must have driven that car hundreds of miles until I outgrew it. I drove it all over my yard and in my grandparents’ back yard as often as I could. I affectionately named it “Boo Jeep”, which was clearly understood despite my young age. It was in Boo Jeep that I learned how to navigate turns, stay focused, drive in reverse, and yield to the right of way. Most importantly, I experienced my first car crash in my powder Boo Jeep.

While driving Boo Jeep, I had a terrible habit of getting distracted by other things such as the neighbor’s dog, my little brother or sister, or even lizards. I didn’t have a cell phone or a radio, thank goodness, because the other distractions were enough to keep my parents in a constant state of panic. My parents tell stories of me looking in the opposite direction while driving and them yelling, “Watch where you are going!!” or “Drew, turn around!!” I really enjoyed that Jeep.

One day, in my grandparent’s back yard, I was driving as usual and I became distracted with my little brother. Unfortunately, because I was not paying attention to the path ahead of me, I ran into a freshly cut tree stump. I wasn’t injured physically, but Boo Jeep suffered some damage and I couldn’t drive it for what seemed like an eternity. Boy was I sad. To this day, I recall how despondent I felt and how lost I was without my Boo Jeep. My parents told me that once I resumed driving again, I was a much better driver and paid closer attention to what was in front of me. That lesson was learned the hard way.

Before getting my Driver License, my parents required me to take a driver education and training course with a professional. During this training, I learned how to stay focused on the road, how to be a defensive driver and how to anticipate what other drivers may do. I also learned how to avoid situations that could cause crashes. This type of driver education is critical in reducing the number deaths resulting from driving. The skills I learned from this training have been very useful to me over the last 2 ½ years of driving. While driving, I frequently recollect the guidance and skills I learned from my professor, John. I feel that I am much safer on the road and avoid crashes effectively due to my driver education course.

Unfortunately, teen drivers are the cause of many car crashes each year. In fact, several of my teen aged friends have been in car crashes while driving. To reduce the number of crashes, and ultimately, the number of deaths from car crashes, the driving age should be increased to 18. In addition, all new drivers should be required to take a drivers education course as a prerequisite to getting a Driver License. While this may seem extreme, many teens have died behind the wheel of a car because of errors that they have made, which could have been avoided. I would rather see fewer young drivers then see another friend injured or deceased from a car crash.

In addition, to save lives, it is also important to prohibit the use of cell phones while driving. Cell phones create a significant distraction when talking, texting, or even playing music. Prohibiting the use of cell phones for all drivers will reduce the number of deaths related to driving because fewer people will be distracted while driving.

I have never been in a “real” car accident; however, I have witnessed my friends driving irresponsibly. When I see this behavior I tell them that it is not cool and I no longer ride with them. There are so many instances where several teens die in car crashes while joy riding or careless driving. When I see these news stories, my first thought is always, why were there so many people in that car? I value my life and one small distraction or error while driving could end both, or all of our lives. Another measure that I believe will reduce the number of teen car crashes is to limit the number of occupants allowed in the vehicle of a teen driver. Having several people in one vehicle is distracting, for even the most experienced drivers.

Steps that I can take to be a better driver would be to turn my cell phone off while I am driving and to limit my passengers on any given trip. By setting an example, I believe that I can have a positive impact on my friends and encourage them to follow my lead. Even small changes can make a big difference in our overall driving safety. I learned this difficult lesson when Boo Jeep was a casualty of my distracted 4 year old driving many years ago.