The Last Thing I Saw: Headlights

1886 was the year that the first car was on the market for everyday use. It was revolutionary for the time as people could travel anywhere they wanted. Today, it’s a major cause of many deaths across the world. While cars revolutionized transportation, they also became one of the major leading causes of deaths around the world. Driver education can play a crucial role in preventing these tragedies by giving drivers the knowledge and skills to stay safe. We must promote driver education to reduce the overall accidents and casualties.

Driving related incidents occur due to unfocused drivers and poor choices while driving. One great way to stop driving accidents is to provide stronger driver education programs. Incorporating real-world scenarios into driver education helps drivers understand potential dangers and learn how to respond safely. Being put into a simulated crash can show the reality of what can happen when being reckless, it will scare people but it’s necessary to show people reality. New drivers can also benefit from the do-s and don’t-s and not to take shortcuts when driving, to recognize and focus on everything around them. Many car accidents occur due to a driver being irresponsible behind the wheel. This can include: being on their phone, drinking while driving, not wearing a seat belt, unnecessarily speeding, etc. It only takes one mistake to ruin yours or someone else’s life.

We must protect our citizens and drivers by enforcing traffic laws. We must have stricter enforcement of speed limits and even seat belt laws. Seat belts may seem like a minor precaution, but in a crash, they are often the reason drivers and passengers aren’t ejected and suffer life-threatening injuries. To promote being safe on the road, we can also have awareness campaigns to educate people on the dangers caused by reckless behavior. Many people don’t realize the truth behind such small actions such as taking a small glance at your phone, which could cause you to hit another car in the blink of an eye.

While the driver may not always be risky or dangerous they can still cause an accident by not maintaining their car. Making sure that your car is up to date with parts and simple safety features like airbags can help save you from being in an accident or even while you’re in one. Your car needs maintenance and without it, you can run into many problems which could cause an accident. To avoid accidents we must do these things so we can have a safer environment for everyone.

Being safe is better than being fast is what should be a quote for all drivers. Drivers always try to get to their destinations fast whether it’s because you’re late to your job or you just want to be home quickly, it’s not worth it. We must all become educated and safe drivers by promoting safe driving for all. As drivers we must set a good example for others like your family and friends. We must also review our traffic laws to stay safe and best practices for driving. We have to obey speed limits and road rules to prevent accidents. Being safe is better, you won’t realize what you have before you lose it. You can lose everything or you can cause a victim to lose everything.

I was outside my house with my dog and was crossing the street. It was dark and cold but it was my usual walk with my dog. I always waited for the crosswalk to change for me just like my mother taught me. As I stepped into the street, I turned to my left towards the darkness and the last thing I saw were headlights. I quickly yanked my dog from crossing ahead of me and watched the car zoom past in front of me, almost hitting me and my dog. I saw that he was on a phone as he quickly drove by and left. It made me realize that if it wasn’t for my quick reactions he wouldn’t have stopped, he didn’t even realize. My dog would’ve been hit and I could’ve been seriously injured. I almost lost my dog that day to a driver who just wanted to be fast and on his phone and the last thing I saw that made my life flash in front of my eyes was headlights, something I never thought could cause one of the scariest experiences of my life. My heart pounded violently as I was overwhelmed with a mix of fear and anger, realizing how my life could’ve been ruined. I hope that whatever he had to get to was important but that doesn’t and should never encourage him to speed and possibly hit a civilian. I almost was a victim of someone else’s recklessness. It made me realize no matter how safe you are, you are still at risk because of someone who fails to take driving seriously.

To prevent possible tragedies like mine we must emphasize the importance of safe driving. Being a safe driver is not just about protecting yourself but also everyone around you. We must strengthen driver education programs, enforce traffic laws, and raise awareness about the consequences of reckless driving. Drivers should set a good example for others by obeying speed limits, avoiding distractions, and staying focused on the road. Driving should never be about getting to a place as fast as possible but rather it should always be about getting there safely. We must all do our part to make roads safer for everyone. Nothing is more important than a life.