The first six months after getting a license are

the most dangerous times for any driver.

If this is true, then why do teens feel so untouchable their first months behind the wheel? Speeding down the major highways, racing each other on neighborhood streets, packing the car with friends for a trip to the mall.  I know at first I was scared to death, but the novelty quickly wore off and in no time I, too, felt like a pro.  Untouchable.

Until my first accident.

It just reminded me that cars are not toys and driving isn’t a game.  We see the potential for accidents everyday as we drive over to a friend’s house, rush to work, or make a quick stop at Wawa.  But do we see these close calls as a warning to pay better attention, or to take precautions? No! We beep and yell, and blame the other driver because it’s always their fault.

It just gets me thinking…

Could that close call have possibly been my fault? I know what you’re saying because it’s the same thing I say, “No way! That jerk cut me off!!” or “He should have seen me merging over!” But then I realize I forgot to use my turn signal when I changed lanes.  And perhaps I didn’t notice that the right lane was ending forcing that “jerk” to cut me off when really I should have let him over 50 feet back.

I think it’s time I get back to the basics….

Stop at stop signs

use my blinkers

brake instead of beep

and of course, wear my seatbelt!

...because simple actions like these save lives.