Luckily, this wasn’t a major car accident, and thankfully no one was hurt. We exchanged insurance information, and the claim process went relatively smoothly. But it still made me wonder after the fact: What if this was worse? What if someone got hurt? Was this a warning? A sign? A second chance?

For many of us, driving has become an effortless yet integral part of our daily routines as we embark on our morning commutes to work, evening trips to the gym, and weekend runs to the grocery store. Sometimes spending up to hours-on-end driving around our local area can make it easy for us to get lost in the seemingly mindless nature of these regular outings. Unfortunately, the reality we face can often become one filled with false confidence based on our developed comfortability behind the wheel. Many drivers, myself included, have been guilty of overlooking the small, physical, and mental checks we use to keep ourselves alert and practicing safe driving each time we step foot in our vehicles. It’s in times like these we can find ourselves most vulnerable to an unpredictable and life-changing car accident.

I took time after the accident to reflect on what I’d gone through. Even as we sorted through the insurance claim, a rental car, and repairs, I still felt there was more to take away from the experience than I had initially thought. After all, it had been almost six years since I first started driving, almost daily, on my own. This accident required a perspective shift. What did I need to learn after being in a car crash?

Attentiveness Over Routine

We all know how hard it can be to make daily tasks, like driving, hold a sense of importance in the grand scheme of our day. After being in an accident, I realized just how preventative defensive driving practices could be. Intentionally focusing on staying alert and aware of other drivers, as well as your own driving habits while behind the wheel, help maximize the safety of all. Even small acts such as turning down loud music and putting your phone out of sight can go a long way in preventing an accident. Actively reminding yourself to keep safe driving practices every time you step in your car will ultimately help break a routine mindset of overconfidence and excessive comfortability while driving.

What’s At Stake

At the end of the day, it’s not just your life that’s in jeopardy when involved in a car accident. It’s not just the life of all those involved either. It’s your family members, your friends, their family members, and their friends, too, that make up all those affected by an unfavorable outcome. As it so happens, I took my crash as a second chance to truly value and accept the responsibility that comes with safe driving in any given scenario and understand the severity of consequences accidents like these can have on more than just myself.

Give Yourself Time Off

With strict work schedules and demanding deadlines dictating your day-to-day tasks, it may seem trivial to break your routine, but letting yourself step back and relax —especially during weekends—can do a ton of good in helping your mind reset. Even simple drives around town will be easier to focus on and navigate with much-needed rest and a clear head. Don’t let the pressure of overworking yourself or overcommitting to a routine jeopardize your ability to accomplish tasks such as driving safely.

Perhaps the best way to reintroduce alertness and attentiveness into your daily commute may be to step back for a short while altogether. On the other hand, those of us who may not have the luxury of taking frequent breaks from daily commutes to-and-from home, work, school, or the grocery store could introduce a new route or drive at a different time of day to give the mind a break from routine.

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