Actions Have Consequences

Driver training and road safety are two of the most important aspects of becoming a responsible driver. I remember eagerly awaiting my 13th birthday, counting down the days until I could start driver’s training. I couldn’t wait for the day I got my permit, and then finally, the day I earned my driver’s license. I was so excited to drive my friends around, grab food whenever I pleased, and speed on the highway without stressing my mom out. That excitement lasted until I lost my cousin in a drunk driving accident.

As much as teenagers often dread sitting through driver’s training and listening to the teacher lecture about road laws, I found it incredibly fascinating. Road safety is something everyone should learn. Understanding the laws of the road and following them can save your life—and the lives of others. Driver education can improve basic driving skills, promote situational awareness, and reduce risky behaviors. Knowing the rules and the best ways to react in specific situations leads to fewer mistakes and fewer accidents.

In order to reduce the number of deaths on the road, we need stronger laws and expanded driver education programs. Some road laws may seem insignificant on a day-to-day basis, but they are there to protect your safety and the safety of others. Drunk driving is the leading cause of death on the road, and that tells us there should be more alternatives to driving home after drinking.

I believe that ridesharing services like Uber should be more affordable. Many people choose to drive themselves home because taking an Uber is too expensive. Additionally, DUI penalties should be harsher. While it’s difficult to know if someone is drunk just by driving past them, there are always signs. Those signs include speeding, swerving, erratic braking, or driving in places where cars aren’t meant to be. Police officers should be more alert at night, especially on weekends, to help deter drunk driving. Many people should also be educated on calling 911, if you see a driver you’re concerned about, report it.

We can all do our part in making our roads a safer place. Teach your children about road safety, share new laws you’ve learned with your family, and make it clear that you would rather be woken up at any hour to give someone a ride, than lose a friend or family member to a drunk driving accident. Drunk driving should be a much larger topic in driver education courses. In my high school, we did a mock car crash to show students the consequences of distracted driving, for example texting while driving. I think it’s an amazing opportunity, and more high schools should implement such simulations for their students.

On July 31st, 2020, just after the hardest and longest five months of my life due to Covid-19, I woke up to an even worse text from my father: “He’s gone, Babygirl.” I hadn’t been on Facebook recently, so I had no idea what he was referring to. As my phone rang while I called my father, I couldn’t even imagine who he was talking about—Was it my stepdad? My brother? My grandfather? Or even an uncle?

When my dad finally calmed down enough to speak and caught his breathe, he explained that my oldest cousin, Kris, had been killed in a drunk driving accident. Kris was 23 at the time. He and his best friend, Joey, had been at the bar celebrating Kris’s birthday. Kris had been drinking to celebrate, while Joey was supposed to stay sober to drive them home. But, as they got ready to leave, Joey secretly took a few shots with some girl friends. On the drive home, Joey lost control of the truck, sending it into a deep ditch and continuing to the trees. Kris wasn’t wearing his seatbelt, and he was ejected from the vehicle, tragically thrown out the windshield. He was unfortunately pronounced dead at the scene.

Kris was the glue that held our family together, and his death tore us apart. He left behind two young daughters who will now grow up without their father. This experience has been a painful reminder of how quickly a life can be lost because of a preventable choice. This loss has turned me away from drinking and especially being in a car with an intoxicated driver.

To become better and safer drivers, we must spread knowledge about road safety. It’s okay to be late—more time to listen to your favorite song. It’s okay to call an Uber—money comes and goes, but your children can’t get a new father. Spread the word: drunk driving is never an option. Teach your friends and family that driving under the influence is absolutely never worth the risk. Actions Have Consequences!