More Than Just a Bumpy Ride

Girls get ready, we are leaving to go see Spider-Man in 5 minutes!” I heard my biological father shout from downstairs. My sister Evelyn and I were with him for a mandated, week-long visit during Winter break and were headed to the local cinema for a “5 Dollar Tuesday” movie showing – something that never failed to excite us. 

It was a rainy night. We could see the reflections of street lights on the road as all three of us walked out of his newly built house. It seemed like all was right with the world as we hopped into his truck, my sister in the front seat and me in the back. We barely had time to buckle our seatbelts before he swung out of the driveway and began speeding down the neighborhood road. “Why is he driving so fast even though the roads are so wet? Had he had a drink or two?” I remember thinking to myself as worry continued to rise into my throat. The fear grew with every rev of the engine and audible gasps escaped Evelyn and me. He laughed at us, saying “Sorry guys, I’m just driving like an asshole.” We tried to stay calm; Evelyn turned to look at me, as if to say “Should we say something?” We both knew he wasn’t someone we could speak up to, though. I figured that we would be fine as soon as we made it outside of the neighborhood and onto the highway. 

But we didn’t make it to the highway. I remember we approached a sign that read “Cherry Street” that required us to make a turn at the end. But my biological father sped up, driving without caution, and failed to make that needed turn. Beyond the street was a wire-gated forest and that’s when we went airborne, straight through the wired fence. Beyond the now-broken wire was a hill. The truck flew down the hill, not touching the ground until we reached the bottom. The truck slammed to the ground and continued forward uncontrollably. I thought this was my last moment on earth. Then an abrupt THUMP. We were stopped by a log crossing our path. Have you ever been thankful for a log? Because I have.

My head hit the window hard with the impact and the airbags deployed. Now that we were stopped, I quickly unbuckled to make sure that my sister and the driver were okay. Everyone was fully intact, despite being tossed around a bit. The same couldn’t be said for the truck though. All of the windows were cracked and, from what I could see with my flashlight, the entire front of the vehicle was falling apart completely. My father had gotten back in and tried to get the car to move, but it wouldn’t budge whatsoever. We tried a few different ideas, but soon we gave up as we saw flashing red and blue lights along the top of the hill. We walked up the muddy Forrest following the flashes above and all I could think was how I could have died just 10 minutes ago. 

For most, driving is an essential everyday part of life, especially with the convenience and quick mobility a car provides. However, with the good comes the bad. Cars and other motor vehicles are a leading cause of death and injury globally. Driver’s education plays a large role in mitigating these risks by providing essential knowledge and skills to drive safely.

Driver’s education can help to significantly reduce the possibility for injury or death caused by driving. Driver’s education — whether it comes in the form of a program, an educator, or both — ensures that drivers fully understand the different signs on the road, traffic rules, driving etiquette, and the detrimental impact of distracted driving. Programs like these promote responsible driving practices and empower individuals to make informed choices on the road, minimizing the likelihood of an accident. 

In order to reduce the number of deaths related to driving, it’s important to understand everything that’s going on around you when you’re on the road. This means staying aware of your surroundings, abiding by street signs and traffic laws, and staying off your phone or device while driving. 

Additionally, public awareness campaigns can help educate drivers about the importance of road safety and the consequences of reckless driving. This may create a much safer society with more responsible driving all around.

In order to become a safer driver on the road, there’s a few steps that everyone can take. One is to ensure that you are fit to drive in terms of skill and having absolutely no impairment – including alcohol or drugs, as well as anger or emotional impairment. Keep your skills sharp, stay updated, and know your surroundings and the relevant laws and regulations in every location you drive. You should also eliminate any and all distractions – phones, food, even messing with the radio! Just one second looking away can lead to a lifetime of regret.

It is equally as important to maintain your vehicle, ensuring it is in optimal condition for safe driving. This means that regular maintenance is done on your car, such as oil changes, checking your tire pressure, wiper fluid, belts, head and tailights, and scheduled part replacement. 

Finally, we should all be defensive drivers. No matter how perfect of a driver you may be, you can’t control the actions of other people. We should always be aware of the possibility of encountering reckless, unresponsive, distracted, or inebriated drivers behind the wheel.

Driver education is not only about knowing the mechanics of operating a vehicle, but it’s about keeping yourself safe and those around you safe. When we respect one another and care about the wellbeing of our community there’s a good chance that we can reduce the number of deaths and injuries related to driving down the road…no pun intended.