A silent epidemic, Deadly choices: A wake-up call Unmasking the Alarming Reality of Road Fatalities in America

First pov

Ring…… ring…. Ringg

1 missed call

Ringgg …ringg ….ringg

unknown: Hi, hello?

….: Yes I spoke from the other end questionable wondering who was on the other end of my mom’s cellphone, A voice I never heard, one that I couldn’t comprehend … She spoke again “Hello?”

“Yes?” I spoke questionably almost in an asking tone. “ Hi yes, this is the EMT we have your mom here, she has just been in a car accident we’re taking her to Grady Memorial Hospital” The lady who’s now been identified as an emergency medical provider for what seems like a potential accident over my mom’s life. “ Hello?” she spoke once more before the line cut out before any other words could be spoken.. I froze and My heart sunk deeper than the cavity in my chest by which it was held… Deeper than my mind and body could handle. I broke down in tears hyperventilating with waterfalls stirruing down my cheeks from left and right. My knees became weak collapsing to the ground outside where I was waiting for my mom to pick me up as we usually go pick up groceries for dinner even after a long day of work.. Chili she spoke of “Be ready when I get there” Mom’s voice cooed in my head once more as I was thinking over and over… “ moms in the hospital… mom’s in the hospital. Safe driving she said.. Seatbelt first seatbelt FIRST !!, where did she go wrong, what happened? Did someone hit her? Where was she? Is she de-.. NO! Stop I refused to believe the negative outcome that my mom had passed due to a reluctantly “ accident” I broke down just as my brother came out of the house figuring out what was wrong and telling me that everything would be alright and that she would pull through this…

Ring ring ring …The phone rang once more. I picked it up on it’s last ring

“ Hello ?” I spoke in tears, out of breath, throat burning from the intense pain from the hard lump to swallow …my dad spoke on the other end telling us to go to my auntie’s house while he went and checked on my mom..Covid was still in the mixture of dying down so there was no way all 5 of us would be able to go and sit with her. Our auntie comforted us with delicious food and positive affirmations that were needed for the soul but I had no appetite, no purpose for filling my stomach, you only do that when you are in a great mood to eat and I had no appetite to do that whatsoever. I jumped back into my head ….seatbelt first, seatbelt first is what mom always said, drive safe and responsibly, never speed around anyone, stop completely at stop signs… noo where did she go wrong … I thought again and her voice chipped in.. “stay in your lane, if they speed around you let them go ahead, never road rage” … I thought again what happened ?!!.. “Take your time, there’s no rush, use your signals, brakes are your best friend”… “Breaks are your what ?” She asked in my thoughts “ My best friend” .. WHAT HAPPENED ?! I asked myself again hyperventilating pacing back and forth through my auntie’s kitchen. She laid a calming hand on my shoulder to get me out of my thoughts once more sat me down and handed me a plate of my favorite food .. Biscuits……. Hours go by and the worse finally comes: the truth…My mom was rear-ended by a drunk driver knocking out her back tail lights and causing her driver’s door to swing open. unknowingly coming back from home on I-166 going around the nature of the curve built into the ramp the car door swung open and 65 miles per hour pushing her forcefully with the help of the wind and the velocity that the truck was going .. Out she fell almost tilting over the ramp she laid there, surprisingly more cars realized… Stop and got out on the highway to call for help. Had the grace of humans hadn’t been there at that exact moment my mom may have died… The driver started to pay for any damage and was given a ticket by the police like that was the end …to be continued….

In the sprawling landscape of American highways, where roads intertwine like veins connecting cities, a silent epidemic quietly takes its toll. The title, “Unmasking the Alarming Reality of Road Fatalities: A Personal Wake-up Call,” holds profound weight as we confront the urgency of understanding and reshaping the narrative of our nation’s highways. Driving, once perceived as mundane, reveals itself as a perilous journey, rivaling the dangers of combat. Amidst this peril, the importance of driver education in reducing fatalities becomes glaringly apparent. Driver education serves as a preventive measure, aiming to curb the repetition of mistakes and mitigate the risks inherent in driving. Rules and laws exist to control the alarming number of accidents and fatalities, emphasizing the need for societal awareness and responsibility. To address the rising toll of road fatalities, steps must be taken collectively. Society should prioritize educating individuals on the dangers of incompetent driving. This involves fostering an understanding of the consequences of reckless behavior and advocating for responsible driving habits. Reflecting on personal experiences, the impact of irresponsible driving hits home. The harrowing incident involving my mom serves as a stark reminder that anyone can fall victim to the perils of the road. It prompts us to consider the steps we can take to become better and safer drivers while actively encouraging others to do the same. In the heart of our nation’s highways, the silent epidemic of road fatalities beckons us to unmask its alarming reality. Driver education stands as a crucial tool in mitigating this crisis, urging us to reevaluate our driving habits and foster a culture of responsibility. The questions posed – the importance of driver education, steps to reduce deaths related to driving, personal experiences with accidents, and measures to become a safer driver – compel us to act collectively, reshaping the narrative of our nation’s roads for a safer future.