Drivers Ed vs. Semi-Truck

It’s that moment when they finally let you out of the classroom and

behind the wheel of a real car. You have watched your parents drive

for years and know it can’t be as hard as they make it sound. You

hop in the car and put your seatbelt on.

The old, strangely dressed man who is your drivers-ed instructor

begins pointing out the buttons, toggles, pedals, and sticks that you

already know. This is child’s play. The only strange thing about the

car is that extra pedal on the passenger’s side. You feel like that

could be an area of conflict. Adults never trust your decision making

just because you are a teenager. But whatever. The lecture is over

and the instructor has given you the ok to go.

Starting

In order to prove to him that you are a responsible, rational being that is ready for the road, you pull out

slowly, although a little jerkily, making sure to signal a left turn. So far so good. You take a spin around

the block, passing your little brother and his friends playing basketball in the neighbor’s driveway. He

starts laughing and pointing, pretending that he’s not jealous. But of course he is. Everyone who can’t

drive is jealous.

After passing the neighborhood drive through, next comes State Street. As you approach the

intersection to turn onto State, your instructor reminds you to keep your distance from the other cars,

signal well in advance, and mind the speed limit. No problem. You turn right onto the busy road and

accelerate. This is great. Thirty, thirty-five, forty, forty-five miles per hour! Merging left was a bit

unsettling. But you didn’t let it show. After an uneventful five minutes, your instructor suggests that

you take a short trip onto the freeway. You feign confidence and pull up at the red light just before the

freeway entrance.

Green light

Green light. Here we go. Accelerating to exciting speeds is

great! Sixty-five miles an hour and you’ve only been on the

road for twenty minutes! Merging was actually kind of

terrifying at these speeds, but you managed it. Close up

ahead, however, is a giant semi-truck. You’ll admit it’s

quite intimidating.

The instructor leans over and explains that you had better get away from this thing as soon as you can.

As soon as the words are out of his mouth, the semi releases a disgusting black cloud. The diesel

emissions nearly blind you for a terrifying second. “Pass on the left,” your teacher cautions. “He’ll be

able to see you better from there. Notice how you can see his face in his side mirror…and now it’s

gone?” When you can’t see his face, that means he can’t see you. So speed up kid and get away from

him!” You step on it, feeling the rush of both excitement and terror. Once you are past, the instructor

leans back in his seat, relieved. That’s right. Take that semi. You glance in your rear view mirror bid

farewell to that smoky cloud of diesel emissions.

Photo Credit: Farm4, Farm7