Does Learning the Hard Way Make You a Safer Driver? (By Danica)

After getting my license taken away for about a year due to my accident, I have experienced the role of being a passenger driver, pedestrian, and faithful bus rider. After experiencing roles other than a driver, I notice a lot more things about driving. I guess most people would classify me as the typical “back-seat-driver.”  Maybe it’s because I have experienced the role of being an inexperienced driver that I have become a highly experienced back-seat-driver. After becoming a professional passenger rider, not being afraid to let my drivers know if they’re going too fast, or being too distracted, I have finally been allowed the privilege of obtaining the role of a driver once again.

This past week I earned back my privilege to drive after almost a year of not driving. As I pondered on the thought of gaining this role back, I noticed something that was different then when I received my license for the very first time ever. Although I was excited to get my license back I became extremely nervous of the thought of being out on the road again as a driver, the one in control, and the hands behind the wheel. Thinking back to the day that I had first gotten my license ever, it was a different feeling. I wasn’t this scared. And why not? The road is dangerous when you think about it. People speed all the time, get distracted by ipods, radios and phones, or pay more attention to what their passengers are doing than focusing on the road and cars around them. So why wouldn’t I be just as scared as I am now about driving as the time I received my license for the first time EVER?

When teenagers first get their license, it’s exciting. They learn all the how-to’s of driving, pass their test, and gain control of something that has become the leading cause of death for teens.  Wait…what was that? Driving-related accidents are the leading cause of death for teens? When we first get our license do we actually think of that fact? I sure didn’t. If I knew this before I started driving for the first time would I have taken driving more seriously rather than living every moment in the car as a joy ride? As I thought this, I reminded myself of my position now as a driver. I had previously been the driver in a fatal car accident in which I lost the life of my boyfriend, and due to my poor actions as that driver, faced emotional, physical, psychological, and serious consequences. So now, becoming a driver once again, I feel I am a much safer driver because of it. Because I now know what not to do and how to be more aware of safe driving. Comparing my thoughts as a “first time” driver again to a teenager just receiving their license, our view of driving is vastly different. It’s like when a little boy spills his juice at the table (action), causing a huge mess, his mother gets mad (promoting fear in the child), and he is told that what he did was not ok and must sit in the corner (consequence). After this incident, it is very likely that the child will be much more careful at the table and be susceptible to the “spillable” things around him. Not perfect by nature, we must learn right from wrong. But must we serve a harsh consequence to truly understand that some things we do are just not ok?

I thought: What if teenagers had the same serious view of driving that I do now without having to deal with consequences to know how truly serious it is?

So, what do YOU think? Does learning the hard way make you a safer driver?

Posted on January 22, 2010 by Danica Lacy / 3 comments