Humble Driving

The first iPhone came out in 2007, two years after I was born. Six years later, in 2013, my mom and dad got their first iPhones. At that time, the iPhone 5 had been out for about a year, and my mom’s phone would become my phone when I turned 13. The iPhone 5 was not as advanced as the iPhone 14 Pro Max, but it did everything you needed it to do – call, text, and play Candy Crush. In 2013, my parents worked very hard to keep our family afloat. Their jobs involved working with many people, including calling or texting them out of work hours. Because of this, my mom and dad were constantly on their phones, even while driving. I was only eight then, so I do not remember many specific instances, but I remember seeing my mom texting her boss while she drove my sister and I to school and my dad having to call multiple people at once while he drove us to ballet practice. Ever since I was a child, I was taught many times that texting and driving was dangerous, and seeing my parents do it made me very scared. I started complaining to them, and, at first, my dad stopped, and he had a conversation with my mom about it, leading to them both stopping. Thankfully, it has not happened again, and it only persisted within the first few months of them getting their phones. The fact that I was taught from a young age, well before I could drive, about road safety may have saved our family from suffering a severe car wreck. At that time, my parents were overworked, and even though they knew the dangers of phone usage while driving, they believed they were careful drivers and wanted to save more time by multitasking. However, safety should always be the priority – above work obligations, above catching up with friends, and above time management.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving caused 3,522 deaths in 2021. The NHTSA also reported a 110% increase in fatalities due to motor vehicle crashes in 2021 compared to 2020. Distracted driving, alcohol-impaired driving, speeding, and lack of seatbelt use are just some of the causes of these fatalities. Having strict and accessible rules and regulations for those who drive is very important in keeping our roads safe. This can include physical and online resources on traffic laws, safe driving tips, and tests taken before acquiring a learner’s permit and getting a driver’s license. Online resources can also help drivers stay current on new or changing traffic laws, and they may be able to review old rules.

Becoming a safe driver requires as many people as possible to follow the rules of the road responsibly. Following safety guidelines and using defensive driving techniques will make everyone around me safer. My top three defensive driving techniques are: taking my time, avoiding distractions, and staying humble. As a young person, who is relatively new to driving, I sometimes drive faster than others. I often want to get to places quickly, and if other drivers around me start picking up pace, I want to speed up, so I do not frustrate others. However, I have learned that I should worry more about my safety than the convenience of others. Speeding is one of the top causes of motor vehicle deaths, and I strive to pay more attention to my speed so I do not end up in a speeding-related accident. Another technique I use is to avoid distractions. In the story I told before, my parents drove distractedly, and even though they did not get in any crashes, they made every second more dangerous by being on their phones. So far, I have never texted while driving, and I only use my phone to check my GPS to see where I am going. Even so, I have still employed other types of distracted driving, like listening to music or eating and drinking. When I realized these were also forms of distracted driving, I started to turn my music down and eat my food before or after my car trip. Lastly, when I am on the road, I stay humble. When my parents were texting and calling while driving, they were putting too much confidence in their driving skills. I also use this technique to keep myself from criticizing and getting mad at others on the road. I never want to have too much confidence in my driving skills and start driving recklessly.

For many people in the United States, driving is essential to their daily lives. Many towns and cities have infrastructure that supports motor vehicle transportation over walking or even riding bikes. Therefore, having easily accessible rules and procedures for drivers and aspiring drivers will keep our roadways safer. I even knew some of the essential rules of the road as a child because my community prioritized road safety. Using tried and proper road safety techniques also helped me personally become and stay a better and safer driver.