Moments

Let me preface this by saying that I do not know the whole story of what I am about to share. I don’t know if the driver was impaired, but regardless this story shook me to my core. 

It truly is fascinating how quickly life can be taken away. The concept of death has only truly hit me in three instances. First, when a boy in my grade took his own life. Second, when a girl in my grade died in a jet ski accident. The one that hit hardest, however, was reading on the news that two teenagers from my area died in a horrific crash only three streets away from me. Every single day, especially when I’m on my way to my boyfriend’s house, I have to pass by the crash site. The wall they crashed into is still caved in, bricks scattered around the sidewalk, and if you look close enough you can still see car fragments. The echo of the accident lives on in that spot, and every time I pass by it I can’t help but get this uneasy and heavy pit in my stomach. I did not know these kids, but knowing they died so closeby quite literally hits too close to home. 

I’ve always thought that impaired and reckless driving were the stupidest things you could do. I got my license back in February of this year. In that time I’ve experienced my fair share of almost getting into an accident, especially at night, but thankfully my reaction skills have saved me every time. Having that constant reminder to drive past every day really helps me remember that when I’m driving, I’m not just putting myself at risk, I’m putting everyone around me at risk as well. A vehicle can quickly turn into a deadly weapon when used irresponsibly. 

That said, I don’t understand people who decide to race down streets at night, like the two teenagers who died in the crash. I’m not sure if they were racing, but according to news articles they died in a “high-speed crash,” and the driver lost control of the steering wheel. I’m sure it’s the adrenaline rush they get that prompted this, but is that really worth losing your life over? Or in worse cases, is that one moment of fun worth spending the rest of your life knowing you killed someone because of your reckless actions? These things are not a joke. 

Every time I pass that spot, I sit a little straighter and grip the wheel a little tighter. I remember how much I need to be aware of my surroundings because it can all happen in just moments. That story didn’t make me scared of driving, but it gave me a deep understanding of what it means to be a responsible and aware driver. 

Traffic laws are put in place for one reason and one reason only: to keep everyone safe. Sometimes when I’m driving I just want to tell these people that no, you are not better than everyone else because you’re ripping up Balboa Blvd in your Mercedes Benz at eight in the morning. In fact, you’re actually being really lame right now and you should rethink your choices. 

In every single aspect of our lives, we have a choice. My father always told me this, ever since I was a kid, and this philosophy has stuck with me all throughout growing up. When you get behind the wheel while drunk, you are actively making the choice to put yourself and everyone around you in immediate and, most times, fatal danger. 

I wouldn’t say that this story and my own experiences on the road necessarily changed the way I think about impaired driving, because I’ve always thought that that is the most selfish thing you could do. It has, however, influenced the way I think about my own driving. In moments where I get upset at other drivers or see someone doing 90 on the freeway, I need to realize that calming down and paying attention to my surroundings is the best thing I can do. 

My mindset quickly shifted after hearing about that accident. If there were other people on the road that night, would they have gotten hit? Could I live with myself knowing my actions ended someone’s life? Is simple irresponsibility a good enough excuse? If I was there that night, would I have had the awareness and reaction skills to know what to do in order to avoid getting involved? That last question especially is the most important. It stands as a reminder to constantly be aware of everything going on around me.

I don’t want to end up the way they did.