New goal: Be a better driver which includes no texting even at stop lights, coming to a complete stop at ALL stop signs (I'm already really good at this one, but perfection won't hurt) and not going more than 5 miles over the speed limit.
I have been picking up on subtle hints and signs from everyone around me that perhaps I need to be a little more careful when driving. I think I've become too comfortable. These signs include things like heart racing while driving in the snow after sliding, hearing my roommate say that she's not allowed to drive at work because of a speeding ticket over 5 years ago even though she has had nothing since, and another friend doesn't even eat/drink while driving because it can be distracting.
Allow me to share a Reader's Digest version of the last 5 years as it pertains to driving.
1 month after getting my license: fender bender
I drove a 1987 Dodge Ram (lime green- it used to be an actual ranger truck). That thing was a tank! As you can imagine, a fresh 16 yr old trying to get accustomed to driving a stick shift as it first starts to rain, isn't going to think quick enough and clear enough to maneuver the roads. I was making a left hand turn and hydro-planed. Take into account that the truck was full of girls at the first high school football game of the year...
About 6 months after that: pulled over for an expired registration
So there I was, driving home from a friend's house in plenty of time to make curfew. The light in the dash of the truck didn't work, so you mainly had to feel the speed based on your gear. I knew I wasn't speeding, but for some reason, lights still went on. Funny: the cop pulled me over again just up the road because, somehow in all of my nervous scrambling for paperwork, I accidentally turned my head lights off. How? You might ask. Well don't ask questions; it'll just make this even longer...
About 6 months after that: hit a parked car.
How do you hit a parked car?!? Well, it's actually quite simple. Again, I was in the truck and trying to park. Like I mentioned, the truck was a tank. I may or may not have swiped the car next to me in the parking lot...
About 6 months after that: fix-it ticket for a burned out head light.
Really? Really, now? What luck! At least it was a fix-it ticket, that's all I have to say.
About 6 months later: I hit a deer. I hit a deer... In South Jordan... on REDWOOD ROAD!
What in the world!?! yeah, that's what I thought.
(we skip the 6 month mark because I left for the first year of college and didn't have a car spring semester)
About a year after the deer incident: ticket for failure to come to a complete stop at a stop sign
All I have to say is that I deserved it.
About 6 months later: pulled over for the light on my back plates being burned out
Cops in Cedar really had nothing better to do.
I'm happy to conclude my car drama there. (for now because I have the sickening feeling that I just jinxed myself) 2 years clean!! :)
As you can see, I have horrible luck with driving. In fact, I absolutely hate driving. Unfortunately, it's quite hard to avoid. I might just be a bad driver, but I have learned a lot from my experiences. If there's anything that I've realized about this lately it's that you can be careful, but you can't control or predict others. I've been blessed to not have anything serious happen, but you can never be too aware -especially when it effects others too. I just hope and pray that safety can continue and extend to the other drivers.
