I’ve Got Somewhere to Be

Despite the jokes about Florida drivers, I can confidently say that I am an example of how some Florida drivers DO know how to drive. I take the privilege to drive a vehicle very seriously because I do not come from a family of drivers. In 1998, my father was the first person in my family to learn how to drive and own a car. Keep in mind, that the first affordable car relative to the average American family was “Henry Ford’s Model T, first manufactured in 1908,” (History.com Editors). My parents, and later my ability to drive means more to my family than the average American because we have never had this opportunity before. My parents are from Bangladesh, meaning, unfortunately, cars are still too expensive for the average Bangladeshi. Every time I drive, I remember that my family, like many immigrant families, have worked hard to allow me to have a better life than they had. I am a better and safer driver because I remind myself that driving is not a right. To continue this privilege, I must maintain my mental and physical health by remembering what my family worked hard for, the American Dream.

I have learned that the first and most crucial step before getting near a vehicle is to ensure that the driver’s mental health is well enough to drive, including unexpected car issues or detours. We all have rough days, but that is not an excuse to drive recklessly. During those days, it is imperative to have at least one close companion for emotional support while driving, have a companion drive that day, or take public transportation. This is especially true for late adolescents and adults, who are “statistically more prone to engage in risky driving due to depressive symptoms, lack of sleep, problem drinking, and conduct behavior problems,” (National Center for Biotechnology Information). It is our responsibility to save ourselves and others by honestly assessing our mental health and other factors that may cause a crash. I know I will never drive home from college for two hours if I have not had enough sleep the night before or if I feel so overwhelmed about my life that I lose focus while driving. In difficult times, I remember that no matter what, I will always be cherished by my family and friends and that it would devastate them if I put myself in harm’s way by driving recklessly. We affect more people than we will ever know. We must remember how important we are. We owe it to ourselves to seek help when needed.

Going back to my family, I am reminded of how there are so many other children of immigrants like myself, who tend to appreciate things most people in the Western Hemisphere take for granted, such as air conditioning, high-speed internet, and not having to walk for an hour to get home. Worldwide, many must walk, bike, take public transportation, horseback ride, cow-back ride, or even donkey-back ride to get where they need to go. To confirm that myself and others are safe on the road, we need to continue to be grateful for what we have. We can’t be cheap and drive a vehicle with unsafe issues. We need to understand that laws protect us from ourselves and each other on the road; and that the consequences are fair. We must be patient with those who are not doing what they should be, while also attentively reporting when others are being unsafe on the road. Gratitude is such an important part of safely driving because it encompasses so many other aspects of driving: if someone is grateful, they will not drink and drive. If someone is grateful, they will not text and drive. Gratitude in this context does not only mean thankfulness but also consistency. The key to having a perfect driving record is to be consistent about every detail of driving, from checking the gas tank to always using turn signals. I am grateful for how driving has given me the freedom to check off as many things from my To-Do list as I want. I can drive to college, then to medical school, and off to the hospital where I can work as a Radiology Oncologist, helping cancer patients recover as quickly as possible. Without the ability to drive, I honestly would not be able to achieve my goals. Why would I ever risk losing the opportunities I have been given by recklessly driving?

To be a better and safer driver and encourage others to be safe, I constantly remind everyone to assess how their mental and physical health statuses are, and how truly grateful they are for the privilege to drive. Everyone has somewhere they need to be.

References

History.com Editors. “Model T.” HISTORY, 27 Jan. 2020, www.history.com/topics/inventions/model-t.

National Center for Biotechnology Information. “NCBI – Risky Driving, Mental Health, and Health-Compromising Behaviors: Risk Clustering in Late Adolescents and Adults.” National Library of Medicine, 4 May 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4225190.