Mom Said Drive Safely

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It was a normal Tuesday afternoon. I left school and had lunch with my friends, we got back in time to take our math test, and I was now on my way home. It had been raining all week and my mom told me to drive safely but I had my license for six months, of course, I was experienced and confident. I pulled up to a red light faster than I should have. Skiding on my wheels only slightly stopping before the car in front of me. My heart raced as I thought it was a close call and I almost giggled remembering my mom’s words. Before any giggle could leave my mouth, my head flew forward into my steering wheel. Although I had stopped in time, the car behind me had not.

I was pushed straight into the F250 before me and threw my car into the other lanes. My seat crashed back I was lying in a supine position with my seatbelt no longer clicked into position. My hair was no longer in its tight bun but all across my face. The drink in my cupholder was now all over the car leaving my seats soaking. The only thing on my mind was my mom. I threw myself forward and searched for my phone on the floor of my passenger seat. Only finding it due to the pinging of my crash detection app. I called my mom and crashed back down into my seat. I heard my mom sob and tell me should would be there soon. That’s when I started to feel the pain. My back ached and my hips screeched in pain. The ambulance and fire truck arrived with my mom hot on their trail. I remember her driving her truck over the traffic median. I tried not to cry when the firefighters came into my car through my shattered rear window. I tried not to cry when they took my pants off to check my hips. I tried not to cry when they used the jaws of life to open my driver’s door and I tried not to cry when I finally saw my Mercury Mariner crushed into a sardine can. I tried not to cry when they told me I was lucky to walk away.

I can not express how many different ways that car crash has affected my life. Leaving me with months of physical therapy, anxiety when driving with others, and a new perspective on what “driving safely” really means. My friends say I drive like a grandma now. I don’t speed, I slow down for turns, and I never accelerate to light no matter the color. Becoming a defensive driver requires you to think not only about your driving but others as well. Assuming that everyone is a bad driver forces you to become the best driver on the road. Maintaining a safe following distance, being aware of your surroundings, and always expecting the unexpected from others on the road. To become a better and safer driver requires focus on the road and staying alert. By practicing defensive driving, maintaining a focused mindset, and always considering others, we can significantly reduce the risks of accidents.

Drivers, especially young ones should be encouraged to be educated in “driving safely”. Requiring all drivers to take a driving safety course before getting a driver’s license will provide them with comprehensive education on road safety, traffic laws, and defensive driving techniques. Driving with a professional instructor can help offer young drivers valuable insights and tips that aren’t usually covered in a standard test. Hearing a testimony from a family who lost a family member due to a car fatality can be incredibly eye-opening. For young drivers, it personalizes the real-life consequences of unsafe driving. Such powerful stories can impact the listeners, making them aware of potential dangers waiting for them on the roads and encouraging them to adopt safer driving practices to prevent similar tragedies. All of this provides new drivers with confidence and encourages them to develop good habits. Ultimately taking these steps to educate drivers can lead to safer roads and reduce the risk of accidents and fatalitys.

In conclusion, driver education plays a crucial role in reducing driving-related fatalities. By giving young drivers the education and skills, understanding traffic laws, and practicing defensive driving we can lower the risk of car accidents. Investing in driver education is an essential step towards creating safer roads and saving lives. So no kid needs luck to walk away from an accident, there will never be an accident.