In The Drivers Seat

Privilege is defined as a special right, advantage or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group (dictionary.com). I believe that while the ability to drive is a privilege afforded to those who take advantage of it educating oneself on the delicacy of driving is equally as important. Education adds more value to the privilege given. Without education you will tend to take what you have been given for granted and therefore risk losing it. Come have a seat with me as I navigate in the driver’s seat and explore the privilege of driving all while educating ourselves on the severity of this privilege and how valuable it truly is.

I remember when I took on the task of learning how to drive, I was scared. What looked easy to many drivers I rode with and watched looked hard to me. Some of that fear was heightened because I was the product of a car accident at the age of 10. Drivers’ anxiety is real and those that have experienced trauma in a car often walk away with this type of anxiety as they revert to “the experience”. I was in a head-on collision and unfortunately, I was hurt the worst. Although that was many years ago the experience is still fresh in my mind, and I would prefer to drive in many instances than to put my life in someone else’s hands. My anxiety when I have rode with others has caused anxiety to them as well and I have practiced techniques of relaxing, of prayer and of meditation. It has not been easy but having control over every driving situation I find myself in isn’t the answer either.

Education puts us in the class of becoming the majority and not the minority of a thing. It gives us tools and resources we might not have had if we hadn’t made the choice to study and become more aware of the task at hand. This is with anything we take on in life. Education gives us an advantage. Obtaining a permit and later a license is exciting, it should come with the understanding, however, that is a great responsibility as well. Researching and studying signs and learning roads and getting comfortable should come with looking at statistics of reckless driving (intoxication, speed, and distracted driving). A reckless choice in many cases can’t be reversed and is a huge undertaking. Most times it is too late to go back and make changes and death as we know is irreversible. You have got to know that there are other choices, better choices than choosing to get behind a wheel when you’re not 100% alert.

I would say we have all witnessed someone driving irresponsibly. Included in this is something as simple as not wearing a seat belt to something even more severe (texting while driving). Both can lead to minor injuries and/or death. A little less severe than this but also holding consequences are higher premiums and even being dropped of insurance. I experienced this with young adult children who were excited but not educated with the rules of the road. Some suggestions I have to educate hence reducing fatalities are the following:

• Driver education courses through your local department of motor vehicles.

• Defensive driving courses.

• Holding young adults accountable may be on a parent’s insurance to paying all or part of the premium that it cost for them to be on insurance.

• Staying current with driving fatalities in your area.

• Making sure you’re aware and alert before getting behind the wheel.

• Watch the show road wars on A&E.

• Having apps available on your phone in case of emergency.

When you make the choice to drive you not only become responsible for yourself, your passengers, but there is a responsibility for those that you share the road with. I often say and tell my children you must drive for and with others in mind. Constantly being aware, thinking and being super alert. The text, the phone call and having lunch can wait because whether it feels like it or we believe it or not someone’s life could be at risk if we make a choice to be an irresponsible driver. While we made it home this trip and/or to our destination somewhere in our country somewhere didn’t. They just took their last breath on the road at the hands of themselves or someone else. This due to devaluing the privilege given to us drive, a tragedy this is.