Name: Iynkary Warren
From: Austin, Texas
Votes: 0
I
was hungry. My best friend and I had just pulled out of our
neighborhood, on the way to our dance performance, one we had been
rehearsing for all year. I do not remember what we were talking
about, but I was hungry. I was nervous about performing for the last
time in front of a new crowd, worried we were going to be late, and I
was hungry. While yielding for a right turn, I hear my friend gasp in
the passenger seat and warningly yell my name multiple times, but it
was too late. It all happened too fast. I lurched my car forward to
turn, but the car in front of us did not continue to move and we hit.
The
accident was only a fender bender, but I was overwhelmed. The other
driver called the police, and the state troopers arrived. I called my
parents and tried to hold my composure, but I burst into tears as the
adrenaline wore off. The whole ordeal lasted an hour but caused
cumbersome effects. In order to prevent points on my record, I needed
to complete a distracted drivers ed course. Then, the
insurance company needed to pay for the damages to her car. Then, the
other driver sued us.
As
a teenager, as a result of the drivers’ education course and past
experience, I understand the importance of being attentive while
driving. Especially for teenagers, as our emotions run high. There
have been many instances when I have been in the car with others who
like to drive fast with quick stops when they are stressed. According
to the course I took after my fender bender, the time saved driving
while speeding are minimal. The drivers ed course required
me to realize the need for having a clear mind while driving, for
both my safety and others in the car or on the road. Furthermore, the
repercussions of dangerous driving are felt long after an accident.
For example, this year I am moving to Texas to attend college. My
insurance rate is about four times my original rate because of the
accident. These are all factors that should be taken into account
while on the road.
In
the present and future, I try to be a better driver by focusing
solely on the road with a calm head. Sometimes if I am feeling
overwhelmed, I will try talking to myself or chanting a mantra that
helps me relax. Learning coping methods, as well as taking a
distracted driving education course has been beneficial for me and
could be for others as well. This scholarship, for example, is a
great way for young adults to reflect on the importance of safe
driving. Perhaps students could also be incentiviced to take a
distracted drivers’ education course to be entered in a sweepstakes
scholarship. Either way, safe driving, and steady emotions are
essential to many students’ daily lives and learning from coping
methods and driving courses could help with both.
