That Feeling of Freedom

Freedom.

My
main motivation in getting my license. The freedom to drive wherever
I please, a chance to escape from my somewhat hectic life. Driving
while listening to my favorite music and singing to the top of my
lungs is something I’ve always wanted to do. But in order to reach
that goal, I needed to learn the laws of the land in order to be
safe.

I
am in the midst of getting my drivers license. I have been studying
diligently through a DMV approved program online reading every slide,
watching every small clip, and gaining all the knowledge on how to
drive safely on the roads. I find driving to be one of the scariest
things – ironic with how much I want to start driving – but I know
that if I properly learn the laws and everything that needs to be
known, myself including my friends, my family, and those in my
community will be safe.

Back
in 2019 around 38,800 people have lost their lives to car crashes
(National Safety Council).

Whether
they be teens or adults, to reduce such a high death rate, it is
crucial to know the laws of the road, learn defensive driving, click
in seatbelts, check your mirrors when changing lanes – but be
cautious: objects are closer than they appear, and stay updated lads
and ladies! To remember, adapt, and adhere to these laws will protect
the ones you love, the ones you cherish, but also those who are
driving beside you. Be responsible in making sure you know how to
drive, you know all the bits and bobs in driving, and know that
consequences will occur if anot.

I
cried in the backseat that night.

I
never been in a car accident, however, I did see one of the most
horrific post-car crashes ever. It was late at night and I was in the
backseat of my mother’s car picking up my father from the airport
with the rain pouring down. The traffic was heavy and dense. Cars
were honking and becoming impatient; starting to make such dangerous
maneuvers to get closer to their destination (note: never do this.
This will most definitely lead to a car crash). When we got closer to
the flashing lights, a large outline of a truck came into a view. A
little closer we saw three cars wrecked. One was flipped upside down,
another on its side, and the last car was under the truck. It was a
horrific sight and all I could think about were the people inside
those cars. I couldn’t help but think what about their families?
Did the people in those tossed cars survive? It seems too bad to be
true.

I
started to cry in the backseat that night.

This
was back when I was living in Seattle, Washington. The fact that this
crash happened at night while it was raining was already stirring up
trouble. One may never know who was at fault, but learning proper
defensive driving mechanisms and driving safely on the roads is one
of the most important things one can possibly do. Because of that
night, the memory of the crash has never left my mind. Because of
that night, I have the motivation to learn how to drive with the
utmost care and concentration. So I won’t ever have to be in any
crash – especially the one I saw on that rainy night.

This
is what I can do.

Epiticus,
a stoic greek philosopher, claimed that most external events are out
of our control, that we must accept the inevitable outcome; however,
what I can do to prevent some external events is by learning how to
drive safely. By making sure I check my rear view mirror, side
mirrors, and what’s in front of me. By making sure I click in that
seat belt before turning on my car, making sure my friends and family
are clicked in. This is what I can do. Learning the laws of the road
is not out of my control – knowledge comes with power and freedom. In
this case the knowledge will lead me to my freedom. The freedom that
motivates me to learn and get my license!