The Other Side

Tayler Cooney

The
Other Side

The day I turned
fifteen and a half years old, I was bubbling with excitement because
I would possibly getting my drivers permit that day. I had studied
the drivers manual in depth, and it paid off, as I passed the test.
I now just had to complete driving school and I would be on the road.
I dreaded the thought of being taught to drive by a stranger, but
little did I know that it would affect my driving forever. My first
few driving sessions went really well, and I was learning a lot. On
the third session the unthinkable happened, I was driving on the
freeway next to a flatbed semi-truck and they swerved directly into
our vehicle. The impact caused us to spin out across the freeway,
hitting two other cars on the way. The second our car finally
stopped, my instructor immediately jumped into action to get us out
of the car safely. Many witnesses rushed to our aid in making sure
that everyone was okay, and for those people I have endless gratitude
for. We later found out that the driver of the flatbed semi-truck had
been on his phone when the car in front of him began to break. So, in
an attempt to avoid hitting the car in front of him, he swerved into
us.

This incident truly
taught me so much about driving and the value of drivers ed. In
that surreal moment, when I didn’t know what to do, I knew that I
could not have been in safer hands. My instructor used this
terrifying moment as a teachable lesson that showed me the true value
of drivers ed, as I learned the importance of driving
distraction free, how to properly handle an accident, and the
implications ones actions can have on others.

It is really easy to
lose touch with the value of safe driving when it’s something you
do daily. When thinking about driving safely it’s essential to
remember that you are not the only one your actions affect. Often,
there is someone on the other side of the accident, and you want to
keep them and yourself safe. I think the immense amount of deaths
related to driving could be reduced if every driver started off with
a solid drivers ed, whether it’s a required course at school
or not.

There are many ways
that each individual can be a safer driver. One rule I like to abide
by is keeping my phone on silent and face down while I’m driving,
which eliminates any urge to grab your phone. One habit I often see
teenagers do is pick music while driving. I too enjoy listening to
music when driving, so I avoid this dangerous action by creating a
playlist that I can put on before I start driving.

It is each
individuals job to drive safely, and if not for yourself, do it for
the sake of the person on the other side.