For our ‘Drive Safe, Arrive Safe’ campaign this year we asked students, teachers and driving instructors who was saying ‘Drive Safe’ to them. The answers we received were heartwarming and made us think about the real meaning behind the words ‘Drive Safe!’.
“Drive Safe” is a common phrase we might hear before we leave for a long drive or even just before driving to work or school in the morning. It’s something we’ve probably all said ourselves to a loved one or friend. When we asked the question ‘Who is saying drive safe to you?’ to young people, teachers and Ryda staff as a part of our ‘drive safe’ campaign we were surprised by the diversity and heartwarming nature of the answers we received.
As expected it’s usually our parents who tell us to ‘drive safe’ before we get behind the wheel. Most of the young people and students we interviewed mentioned their mum or their dad in their answers but it was also a common answer from many of our interviews with adults such as the members of the Ryda staff or from teachers at the schools we ran workshops at. When invited to examine what the meaning what the meaning behind those words were most of our interviewees stated that “drive safe’ meant their parents were really telling them to stay calm behind the wheel, to not be reckless and not show off! Something I’m sure we’ve all heard from mum or dad ourselves!
Another large percentage of interviewees mentioned their friends, partners or even co-workers, reflecting on how at the end of the day ‘drive safe’ was about the hope that they would reach their destination without incident and that it was always something you would say to the people you cared about with this in mind.
One answer that we loved to hear came from two members of the Ryda team who answered ‘myself’. These members both mentioned that at the end of the day it’s them behind the wheel and that ‘Drive safe’ was a phrase that they took with them on the journey to remind them that it was their responsibility not only to keep themselves safe but everyone else on the road as well.
We had a fantastic time interviewing our volunteers for this campaign and thank everyone that participated. We hope you all ‘Drive Safe’ this holiday season!
For more driving tips and stories explore the ‘Drive Safe, Arrive Safe’ site here
