Learning and Teaching Through Life Experience

I grew up in a much simpler time, where traffic accidents were not as common, although I’m sure other old souls would tell you the same thing. While I am not a student right out of high school, and have been learning and driving for years now, the topic of safe driving is a part of my personal and professional journey. I find myself to be a safe driver, with a lot of driving instruction; even so, I have been a victim of driving accidents. I have been involved in my own accident as well as a witness to countless others and have lost many friends, beginning when I was a teenager.

In the year 2016, I was a new, “Rookie” Deputy Sheriff, serving a large suburb of Denver, Colorado. One of my first calls for service was a traffic accident. The incident involved a young and reckless driver, and an older gentleman who lost his life. While my goal was helping others in that career, I realized that some things were out of my control, and I couldn’t help the older gentleman in this situation. What I could do in the future was to enforce traffic laws, as well as educate the community about safe driving. My hope was to avoid another devastating accident.

I realized that enforcing traffic laws would in the future help avoid more traffic related deaths. Not only did it help statistics, but it also helped the education of drivers. Some received tickets, others received warnings. Each ticket and warning helped warn the community of the dangers of their driving and the prospective outcome. I found that the traffic stop alone was an important step to improving the education of safety. This at least began the conversation about how to be a better and safer driver. Families would gather around the dinner table talking about their day, and no doubt would mention my traffic stop and their outcome. I felt that if the message was spread, education would be as well.

In my career as a Deputy Sheriff and Police Officer, I bore witness to many kinds of drivers. Safe and considerate, rude and selfish, and just plain reckless. I had to bury some of my close friends due to unsafe and reckless driving, which through education and addiction help, could have been prevented. This was a hard pill to swallow. Most incidents were due to distracted driving and driving while under the influence. I felt that I tried to protect my community, but I couldn’t be everywhere at once.

Seeing and understanding the devastation of these kinds of drivers is nearly indescribable. Or it was so traumatic that the vicarious trauma to explain the situation to others may do more harm than good. I witnessed judges order various driving programs to the offenders to help encourage safe driving. Unfortunately, more saw this as a punishment and didn’t always take the classes seriously. I saw many drivers’ licenses taken away, which is appropriate in various situations. I believe that more free and affordable access to driving education would be even more beneficial.

To the new drivers in my life, I remind them daily to drive safely and have a due regard for others. I encourage drivers’ education classes. I share my experiences with them in a safe and healthy way. I also emphasize that in everything we do, we should be kind to others. On the road is a very important place to practice this. Reminding the world, you could potentially save a life. I believe that continuing programs, such as Alive at 25, truly helps promote the education of safe driving. The class helps those 25 and under to remember the consequences of distracted, reckless, careless or intoxicated driving.

In May of 2022, I was working in a metropolitan city in Colorado. Interstate 25 was apart of where I worked. I knew the dangers of the highway and what could happen to those who were driving recklessly. I often conducted traffic stops on Interstate 25 to help educate drivers through a very busy part of the city. Hoping that it would slow down or stop the number of calls that we received to respond to accidents on the highway. I originally responded to a traffic hazard, meaning there was an object or debris in the roadway. Before I could respond to clear the hazard, a vehicle hit the object and needed assistance. I was in my fully marked patrol car with my emergency lights illuminated. Knowing the dangers of the highway, where many have been injured or killed, I waited for my partner to respond as well to help block traffic.

Before my partner arrived, I was struck by a vehicle while seated in the patrol car. My original intention was to exit my vehicle, clear the debris and pull off the Interstate. I’m glad that I didn’t exit my vehicle, or I would not be writing this essay today. I was injured and out of work for a few weeks and was required to participate in physical therapy. The driver of the other vehicle was intoxicated and left the scene. I had a wonderful team helping me, who located the driver and arrested them.

This began a court process that took months to complete. I wrote victim impact statements and testified at a few hearings telling my story. The night of the accident didn’t just affect me. It had a toll on my family and friends too. I was nervous to drive on the Interstate again and eventually did. I realized that if I had hesitations to get back on the roadway, how many others would have the same response? Victims, families, witnesses would all have some sort of trauma related to their own incident.

Helping others led me to having a passion for mental health. I believe that incorporating this aspect into education as well as judgments, will better help prevent further incidents. How many judges or district attorneys could suggest that a mental health facility or treatment be part of a judgment settlement in accidents. This would not only help prevent it, but also help victims if they required such help to feel safe getting back on the roadway. Afterall, being too tentative while driving could also cause an accident. Having the physical and mental wellness to be prepared to drive safely is important too.

Will we, as a society, be able to prevent all accidents? The answer is, “No.” An accident is just that, an accident. However, we can help tell our stories as victims and witnesses. We can help support driving education, as well as programs such as Alive at 25. We can all put our phones and distractions down for a moment. We can tell our friends and families about law enforcement who may have stopped us today. Each benefit in the prevention of driving without due regard for others, including ourselves. Slowing down, paying attention and being kind to others are all ways we can prevent devastating accidents, including those where death is involved.