Every year before graduation the cops get a tow driver to bring a totaled car and put it in front of the high school. There is a sign by what’s left of the car - Don’t drink and drive.
I don’t recall them ever doing that at our high school, but, as I said, they showed us plenty of those bloody highway films…burned to death corpses, faces smashed in beyond recognition, etc. Many had to leave the room, but I watched and, man, they were nasty.
Also, it behooved you to, pretty much, know the Texas Driver Handbook from front to back. It was a good class with good behind the wheel instruction, as well.
As I posted earlier, I received instruction from my Pop well before I ever took Drivers Ed.
A few gems below that my Pop imparted to me…
• Drive like everyone else on the road is a complete and total idiot (he actually used another word) except yourself.
• If you think there’s no way that car at the side street or drive you’re approaching will not pull out in front of you, think again.
• Having the right-of-way doesn’t make you any less crippled or dead.
I actually experienced the second one many years ago. I had to swerve from the right lane to the left, and missed their front bumper by about a foot. Damn near scared the crap outta’ me, but, as I was approaching, I was prepared.
I passed both the written and driving tests on my first try, including parallel parking.
The last traffic “entanglement” I was involved in was back in ‘91 or ‘92…can’t remember for sure.
I was waiting at a light in the left lane with a car on my right. When the light changed and we started rolling, she cut it short toward the left lane right across my right front bumper. Left a big gash in the side of her car from midway in the drivers door, through the rear door to the rear fender.
Her fault, her insurance covered my damage, which was actually pretty minimal.
And, even though I retired from the “rat race” back in March of last year, I’m still driving our son to work three days a week, thirteen miles each way.
As a result of all of the above, I passed along my driving knowledge and experience(s) to our two daughters, and both have, pretty much, perfect driving records, at ages 30 and 33…!!!
