Lessons Learned and Taught

Most people on the road have adopted a “this won’t happen to me” attitude concerning car accidents. The drastic reality of “it could be you” is never understood until it has happened. Earlier this year, I was in a minor car accident where the only damage was to the vehicles. This experience acquainted me closely with the dangerous nature of driving. After the incident, I began to notice a fear I felt when being driven around by others, particularly friends. Being young and inexperienced, they always claimed they were a “good driver’ even “better than the rest,” but these claims were nothing short of hypocrisy. They made these claims after partaking in dangerous actions such as swerving or crossing multiple lanes, distracted driving, hard braking, and overall lack of care for those they share the road with. They would often cuss out a driver for a rash action and turn around to partake in the same activity. Brushing off any warning they received with a wave and claimed I was hurting their feelings. After these experiences, I learned the urgent need for a comprehensive driver education program.

The predominant goal of driver education is to teach new drivers how to operate their vehicles safely. For this reason, a standardized education program is the best way to ensure the safety of everyone on the road. Through standardization, there is knowledge of how the driver and those around them are expected to behave. This predictive behavior allows for accurate predictions of movement to work around safely. Additionally, driver education aims to teach new drivers the proper behaviors in dangerous situations, from terrible drivers to weather conditions. However, driver education only serves as the theory of driving until it is applied, i.e., when practice in a vehicle has taken place. Practice in a vehicle with the proper personnel is the superlative way of learning to drive safely. With said practice comes experience ingrained into memory that can be called upon when needed. Furthermore, the more experience gained hydroplaning, for example, reduces the fear experienced during the event allowing the driver to act rationally and reduce drastic behaviors. These are the primary benefits of driver education; however, a plethora of actions can be taken to enhance safety on the road.

While there is a neverending sea of advice, I will focus on three key takeaways a driver should acknowledge before driving in a working-condition vehicle. One key takeaway I have learned is to be in the moment. A driver’s mindset can tremendously influence how they operate a vehicle. This being said, having patience is a virtue, yes, but also the singlehandedly most effective way to reduce the chance of causing an accident. As a byproduct of a patient mindset, the catastrophic need to make rash decisions in a rush withers away, giving time for the driver to react to situations appropriately. Being “in the moment” can be described as focusing all attention wholeheartedly on driving. Anything not including driving is a distraction from time, music, ongoing conversations, and any phone use. While music and conversations may serve as background noise, once the driver’s attention has been refocused on either, it is now a distraction. The second takeaway comes from advice I received: a driver is driving for those around them, not the other way around. The meaning is simple yet powerful. Simply put, if a driver believes other drivers should react to them, they are wrong. The goal of driving is to be as predictable as possible. Being predictable allows others to expect. Ultimately, this gives every party sufficient time to make any needed adjustments. This is most powerful when discussing drivers who believe they are invincible with their driving skills and obey no laws but their own while holding others accountable for not reacting to their reckless driving or being predictable. The last takeaway reminds the masses that just because it is allowed does not mean it has to be done, and it is most applicable in states where turning right on red is legal. With everyone rushing to their destinations, it is often forgotten that taking this action is not required at every red light. The repercussions of this action are seen the most in my neighborhood. Down the street, a minor road connects to a major road whose intersection takes considerable time to change. However, on that corner, there is a house whose yard blocks the view of oncoming traffic leading cars to pull out much further to see minimally past it. Not only does it risk getting hit by oncoming traffic while sitting in the intersection, but the view of the road is highly obscured, and making the turn is often done when one senses a dull in traffic. The result of the environment fueled by drivers’ need to make a right on red turn has led to at minimum one accident per week in the intersection. Every driver strives to reduce the chance of becoming involved in an accident, and by acknowledging these takeaways, a driver can have the odds be ever in their favor.

Driving again after my accident was learning to overcome the fear that came with it. There were many steps I had to implement in my driving to facilitate a secure atmosphere. As simple as it may seem, taking my time was the biggest. Not being in a “rush” mindset allowed me the time to process the situation around me calmly. Leaving with ample time to arrive at my destination has been a godsend for my mentality while driving. Time came directly related to not fall under peer pressure. Being new to driving with minimal experience, I often felt compelled to act when those around me were honking or tailgating. Pressure to act would build up until I was overwhelmed and compelled to act rashly and appease the masses. Now with time to spare, I take actions with confidence in my ability to make them safely.

Having been involved in a car accident, as minor as it was, left me with scars. I have become anxious about driving or being in cars with untrusted people. It has left me emotionally exhausted as my city is not walkable. Seeing how a minor accident has affected me, the effects of a fatal accident are unfathomable. In no circumstances would I wish the experience of a car accident onto someone. Warning people of their negligent actions at the wheel has never been easier when, at worst, the alternative is unimaginable suffering.