Putting Myself In The Driver’s Seat

Putting Myself In The Driver’s Seat

The screeching of metal and the popping of an airbag played through my mind like a film for the thousandth time. My sister was so fortunate to walk away from her accident unscathed, unlike so many others- she had pulled past a stop sign and totaled her car as a result. She was afraid to step back into a vehicle for months after, something that rubbed off on me when I became of-age to receive my permit.

It had been 10 years since my sister’s car crash, and yet it was imprinted in my brain, a constant source of worry despite my own driving skills- it was the very reason I waited two years to get my permit. I knew that I was very cautious, but what about other drivers? Accidents are inevitable and it wasn’t a mistake I was ready to make. I ultimately decided to get my permit at the end of 10th grade.

I write this now, having had my license for less than a week, understanding more about motor vehicles and road rhetoric than I thought possible, and realized some invaluable points to take with me on every journey. Firstly, I cannot control other drivers, and am wholly responsible for delivering myself home safely. Conversely, I am a risk to every other driver on the road if I lack education or awareness, and realize the dangers of misinformation- if I do not protect myself, then I have no regard for others and the possible risks that could be inflicted on them. For this reason, drivers ed is a crucial experience that must be embraced wholeheartedly by every new driver- after all, not everyone is in my shoes having known the dangers associated with road travel prior to hopping behind the wheel.

Secondly, driving is a privilege. Unlike so many of my peers that I have witnessed transition from newly-licensed drivers to frankly, reckless drivers who are self-assuming on the road, there is a compassion component of driving that I strive to uphold. If a driver does not comprehend the consequences of his or her actions as conveyed through their Drivers ed program, do they really belong on the road?

Finally, I believe the only way to truly reduce the horrific number of road deaths each year is to drive consciously and defensively- best put, my driving instructor instilled that a good driver is cautious but not hesitant, defensive in nature yet deliberate with actions to prevent accidents. This further emphasizes the fact that texting and alcohol have no place on the road, nor do they justify killing other motorists in accidents where they were the underlying cause.

In the end, I understand that I may not be able to control every circumstance on the road. But if anything, I know that the safety of myself and others rests entirely in my hands every time the key hits the ignition, and I can only hope for that same respect from others.