Driver’s seat or dying seat?

A prominent time in life for many young teens is finally turning 18, the number that represents their driveway into adulthood. To immerse into this new sense of adulthood, young adults race to get their driver’s licenses. Afterall, they spent many hours practicing and learned the signs and rules of the road. Some even were eager and got their driver’s permit to get ahead on hours on the road. But something they’re not ready for when handed their fresh new drivers license, is the power they now hold behind the wheel. Comprehension is a great word to describe the extent of knowledge many drivers actually know when it comes to drivers education. They’ll know the roadway signs, not to text and drive, no drunk driving, etc. The issue isn’t that they don’t know what makes a safe driver, it’s that they don’t understand why they should be a safe driver. Anyone could list endless points of how to be a safe driver but comprehending why drivers’ education is important is an entirely different thing.

Drivers education is salient when regarding the number of deaths being reduced from a result of driving. However, everyone knows this. They tell you to be a safe driver, and you listen, and for 90-95% of the time you comply. But it only takes that 1% to cause a death. There are numerous ways one wrong move could completely change a simple road into a sad, sickening, heart-breaking disaster in seconds. It has been reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that in 2022, there were an estimated 42,795 fatalities caused by motor vehicle crashes. Now you look at this number and feel sad, you see a number of people that died. Not a number of lost daughters, sons, siblings, loved ones, mothers, fathers. This number represents real people, who lost their lives by either being unsafe drivers or by being a victim of an unsafe driver. The next time you get behind the wheel understand that being educated on driving can save a life of either yourself or someone else.

You might be thinking, well I check my mirrors, I put my seatbelt on and drive the limit. What else could I possibly do to be a safe driver? Surely you are correct, yet so incorrect at the same time. Not only do those basics keep you safe enough, but they aren’t the only steps one can take as precaution to make driving safer. Car maintenance is something that many drivers ignore, because if your car can drive, it’s surely fine, correct? It’s a little more complicated than that, make sure your car is getting regular maintenance, because the second a front signal light goes out, it could cost you or someone else a ticket to death/injury. Proper car maintenance in special weather is also important, if you live in an area that gets icy cold winters, snow tires make the biggest difference. Another step is avoiding distractions, which is easier said than done. Don’t text and drive, a simple glance at the phone is a glance away from the road, and it only takes seconds. Messages will remain, but your life could not. Lovers of the radio could be more cautious of the volume, it could mask other noises, such as car noises, sirens and even pedestrians. Taking a ride with friends? Don’t let them be the reason something goes wrong, make sure your passengers understand how if they distract you from the road, everyone’s safety is on the line. Are you driving around bike lanes? A simple blind spot check could save an innocent life of a biker and save you from major consequences. A no brainer step is drunk driving, but you surely know this. But are you doing your best to prevent it? Never drunk drive, it doesn’t matter how good of a driver you think you are or how many drinks you had to justify yourself getting behind that wheel, the answer is don’t do it. So, let’s say you acknowledge that you’re drunk and aren’t going to drive, great! But you see someone else who’s drunk and about to drive, and that’s when it hits. The decision making, it’s not your problem, you hardly know them, you want to avoid confrontation or possible conflict. All reasonable feelings but are you really a safe driver if you’re not protecting the streets from a reckless driver. A simple “hey let me get you an uber” can save many lives. If you cannot bring yourself to confront an issue as such, a call to 911 to report a possible drunk driver could make the biggest difference. This leads into the most important step of being a safe educated driver, attentiveness. So, you’ve established all the safe driving steps and feel ready. But your attentiveness glues all these steps together and goes beyond. Pay attention to other drivers and their vehicles, the signs, the lights, your surroundings, pedestrians, the weather, noises, pavement markings, trucks, traffic, and know that although it’s a lot to consider, it’s also a lot to lose a life.

Isabel is the name of a daughter, a niece, a sister, and surely my best friend. She was a victim of a motor vehicle crash in 2016, by simply being a passenger. She wasn’t even behind the wheel and had no control over the situation. Isabel’s mom was the one driving, and safely as well. It wasn’t until one reckless driver was speeding down the roads and caused a major impact with their car that led to them being flipped upside down and abandoned by the reckless car. Luckily, they experienced minor injuries, but the thought that they were conversing one second, and upside down the next. Left unsteady and unable to move, was an anxiety- painful confusion. Not only were they hurt physically but they were forever scarred internally.

A driver’s education is one’s own responsibility and continuous learning about such topics can make the biggest difference. In order for myself to be a better driver, I understand the power and control behind the wheel, and I never take it for granted nor will I ever. I take all precautions under my belt, the basics and beyond. I do my part by following rules and avoiding distractions and even recognizing other drivers on the road who are being unsafe. To put it into perspective, I take all safety steps and not only do them, but I comprehend why I’m doing them. So, someone innocent doesn’t get hurt, so I don’t get hurt, so a simple drive doesn’t turn into a car crash scene. Personally, I don’t tolerate unsafe driving and will always point out someone’s unbuckled seat belt or tell them they’re being a distraction. I call out other drivers who think they’re too good to follow the rules. And lastly, the power of language is how I help others become safer. As a bilingual individual, I know I can inform a whole new group of listeners about driver’s education. I can let them learn and understand by simply just speaking but speaking in their language makes it much more meaningful and straightforward as it can be. Knowing I can tell them about the fine line between a driver’s seat and a dying seat can make all the difference among motor vehicle crash fatalities.