The Two Ton Killer

Almost everyone has seen one, ridden in one, or operated a death machine. Everything we do, such as playing outside, checking the mail, and driving to work, can be a life-or-death mistake. These things all have one thing in common, and all of these can end with a car accident killing everyone involved. Many things go into account while driving, such as the other driver’s education about the road or if there are other underlying circumstances, such as being distracted, inebriated, or both.

I have had the gut-wrenching experience of seeing many of my friends and loved ones get in many dangerous car accidents, almost taking their lives more than once. These accidents were not my family’s fault but were all the fault of either distracted or drunk drivers. The most recent accident happened to my friend. She was going to see Christmas lights a couple of cities over from us, and she was t boned by a drunk driver, almost ending her life; she spent a few nights in the ICU recovering from her various injuries, such as her broken back, broken jaw, and second impact syndrome. She would spend the next two almost three years fighting a legal case against the driver. The legal side of the accident was finally finished just a few months ago. My friend’s life was forever changed after that night; she fears driving and hates being in any moving vehicle for fear of another collision. These same fears of the friend in the most recent accident also apply to my friend who was involved in yet again a drunk driving/speeding accident which has left her paralyzed from the belly button down, leaving her unable to perform any of her life goals in desires. These two car accidents have forever changed my outlook and priorities while behind the wheel of a car.

Many steps can be taken to reduce car-related deaths. In the state of Texas, the top causes of accidents are not following the speed limit, reckless and distracted driving, maintaining or changing lanes, driving while under the influence, and aggressive driving. All these top driving accidents are entirely preventable in every circumstance. For example, if you know you struggle with distracted driving, you can place your cell phone out of reach, whether in the trunk or backseat. If you struggle with speeding or going too slow with a simple installation of Apple Carplay and keeping the maps open, it will give you the posted speed limit. If you are going out with friends knowing you are going to be consuming high amounts of drugs or alcohol, make the smart decision to take an Uber or a Lyft to and from your destination. If you tend to drive aggressively, try staying calm, planning, and managing anger. While merging, double-check your blind spots, rearview, and side mirrors before taking action. The risks of driving are substantial, but answering a few rhetorical questions before getting behind the wheel of a car can significantly reduce the number of fatal accidents on the road.

Driver education is crucial for everyone, whether it be someone of driving age or not. Some laws pertain to the driver and all the passengers, such as the law around wearing seatbelts in the car and open alcohol bottle laws. There are also scenarios where drivers miss a vital sign on the road when trying to traverse in less-than-ideal weather, such as rain, snow, or ice. While the drivers should be paying attention to all signs, occasionally having a person remind you of the signs can be helpful for many people, especially newer drivers. Teaching laws even before learning them for driver’s education courses has been proven to help young adults learn how to drive. As a part-time after-school nanny who transports children from place to place, I have found myself teaching kids 9+ years away some simple laws and rules. They have learned why we stop by unloading school buses, pull over when emergency service vehicles pass, and the importance of stopping at red lights and stop signs. Teaching these roles at a young age allows for a heightened sense of road awareness closer to being a driver and in a driver’s education program. The heightened sense of awareness at a young age can completely change the statistics when it comes to the number of deaths on the roadways.

The roads are dangerous places for many individuals, whether they be behind the wheel, passengers, or pedestrians passing by. Education is crucial to the safety of the roads and is something that needs to be continued for current and future drivers. The roads are full of people, and you do not control their every move, leading to a lot of trust in other drivers. With smarter vehicles, smarter phones, and smarter people, we are going to continue to face the problem of distracted driving. Making distracted driving laws stricter could make the roads safer for everyone who uses them. Taking a few steps to remove the distraction of a cellular device could truly save the lives of so many innocent individuals.