Battle Scars of Blind Eyes

Battle Scars of Blind Eyes

By: Abigail Zita Adams

To some people, they may see a
driver’s license as a prize for good driving, while others may see
it as an escape from the bad. Many teenagers may think that driving
is a right, but it’s not, it’s a privilege, and a hefty
responsibility. Drivers ed and safety is often not taken
seriously enough by young drivers throughout the United States, when
it should be because of the lives that are at your mercy when you sit
behind the wheel. All it takes is one second of not paying attention
to change your life or someone else’s life forever.

It was the end of my Junior
year in high school, right at the start of summer, almost everyone in
my grade had their license by then, even the less responsible ones.
School was now out of session and everyone was preparing for senior
year, excited and scared for the changes it brought, not knowing what
was to come. On a summers night, two boys, Tyler and Zach, were on
the way to a friends party. Zach was driving and Tyler was in the
passenger seat. They left a little late and were trying to make up
time, so Zach was taking some backroads, shortcuts to get to the
party quicker. They went around a bend too fast and Zach lost control
of his mom’s car. Tyler wasn’t buckled, and flew out when the car
hit a tree, unconscious. Zach was buckled and still hit his head
against the steering wheel.

Another car driving by saw
this and called 911, Zach had a bad concussion and needed a few
stitches. Tyler was rushed to the Emergency Room, then later put in
the ICU where he stayed for over a week. Two months after the
accident and Tyler was still recovering, he ended up being partially
paralyzed in his face and left arm. Tyler doesn’t remember the
accident, but Zach does, and he has to live with himself knowing what
he did to his best friend. Zach still has nightmares about that night
of what he was the cause of. Tyler was 16 at the time and fortunate
to survive, but will have scars from that night for the rest of his
life.

Every year, because of
distracted driving, 34,000 people die in the United States, Tyler was
almost one of those 34,000. Drivers ed needs to be taken more
seriously, so those numbers don’t keep increasing. If Driver
education isn’t taken more seriously, then we are killing off our
generation before they have a chance to live their lives. Driving is
a privilege to have, and everyone should know the joys and good times
that driving brings, but also the tragic times that can claim the
life of someone you know or even you. Now, are you still willing to
drive so carelessly? Open your eyes, pay attention to your
surroundings, so that you and others around you can stay alive.