The Power of a Moment

Doors
closed.

Seatbelt
on.
Mirrors checked.

Keys
turned.

As
the comfort of my school slowly faded away, I found myself ready for
my first in-car drivers ed class. Nervous, I kept my eyes on
the seemingly infinite loop of pavement ahead of me. I was mature, I
was strong, and I was ready to drive.

But
as the euphoric high faded away, I receded to my thoughts.

Was
I ready?

In
the small sedan that would be my entry to the world of the open road,
I felt that I had been given power. The power to go anywhere, but
more importantly, to have responsibility.

As
a driver, one must exercise extreme caution while on the road. A
million stories could be told, but action is the only thing that can
fix our country’s driving problem. I am lucky to have parents that
could speak firsthand about the dangers of driving and assisted me in
learning, both in my textbook and behind the wheel. Parental support
may be a key to stopping the innumerate figures of traffic
fatalities, but other solutions must be called into play. One may be
erasing society’s willingness to drive under the influence of drugs
or alcohol. A concrete step that can be taken to reduce the high
fatality rate of driving is raising a greater awareness for drunk
driving laws.

Even
though I have never been in an accident, I am constantly working to
improve my own driving. When I find myself feeling too comfortable, I
always work to keep my distance between myself and the cars in front
of me, and adjust my mirrors whenever I can. Whenever I see someone
driving recklessly, I maneuver away from them and never raise to
their level. I always leave an ‘out’ for my car in case I am
placed in imminent danger. Over the years, I’ve found that the
little things while driving make the most difference.

I
am a strong advocate against distracted driving in all forms, but
especially under the influence of alcohol. My dad’s best friend was
struck by a drunk driver while walking home from school in his
teenage years and permanently paralyzed. This ended his dreams of
becoming a college athlete, but it did not stop his spirit. I idolize
him, and all the unwitting victims of unsafe driving. In my opinion,
the worst part of unsafe driving is the lives ruined without a
warning. One moment took away his life’s dream, but not his power
to educate.

Being
a responsible driver is about harnessing the power of a moment. Each
second on the road could potentially lead to disaster unless proper
education and preventative measures take place.