The Color Green

The color green reminds me of a lot of things: trees, grass, and what I’d assume one of my classmates saw in a blur as her car went rolling across the highway. She had been drinking, and pretty heavily at that. Thankfully, she wasn’t the one driving, but that didn’t truly matter, as the boy driving her was severely drunk as well. The car he was driving had crashed and she was in critical condition. During this time, our school used the color green, her favorite, to support her and remind everyone of what had happened. A few weeks later as I was walking into school for my volleyball game, I heard the news. She had passed in her sleep, no longer fighting for life.

One of the main problems with driving is how casual everyone seems to take it. When you take driver’s education, many get nervous about operating a death machine. Within a few months, that fear flies away and suddenly you’re driving in the wrong lane just for the thrill. This is the problem with drivers now-a-days, they think it’s funny to pretend to swerve or see how far they can push the speed limit. I’ve seen it firsthand, and it genuinely takes the breath out of you. When I took driver’s education, I was forced to watch videos that rattled me to my core. I never wanted to drive, too scared that I would accidentally hurt someone. It seems most people aren’t on the same page anymore.

Driver’s ed plays a vital role in how new drivers develop throughout their lives. With a laid back instructor, you won’t understand the severity of the risks you are taking. Meanwhile, the course I took had me too nervous to leave the school parking lot with my educator. Though it sounds like a bad thing, being cautious will get you much farther than recklessness. In my four years of driving, I have been aware of five car crashes in my area: two resulting in death, one in critical conditions, and the other two committed by the same person. Reckless driving only leads to horrid outcomes that no one should have to go through. Driver’s ed is so important because if you listen, learn, and take care in your driving abilities, you’re not only protecting yourself, but fellow drivers surrounding you.

I would say one of the biggest causes of car crashes is drunk driving, the process of being extremely intoxicated, knowing it’s a bad idea to drive, and then getting in your car anyways. Some may not understand the seriousness of the issue or state, “That’ll never happen to me”. Except that it can, and it will if you don’t take precautions. To reduce the number of deaths in driving, I think more people need to take accountability for their actions. There’s a multitude of ways you can avoid drinking and driving, like a designated driver or an Uber. It’s your decision to drive while intoxicated, but it’s also someone else’s life in your hands if something goes wrong. As a whole, adults and teens need to get smarter about drinking and driving. It’s a pretty simple concept. By breaking the law, you’re breaking the hearts of relatives and friends who care for the people you put in danger.

Besides the crashes I’ve heard of, I’ve only ever had my life flash before my eyes a few times. The worst part is, I wasn’t the one at fault. Around a year ago, my boyfriend and I were headed to Des Moines to go out for dinner. He was driving his small, black car as we were cruising down the interstate. At this point, we hadn’t known there was construction and a lane had been closed off. As we continued to pass a semi, he began to close in on us. He inched closer and closer at a speed of over 80. We were in his blind spot, he never noticed we were there. Luckily, my boyfriend had the brains to hit the breaks, hoping no one was tailing us from behind. As the semi cut us off, I stared out the window, wondering how that could’ve ended. He was on the passenger side. My side. I wouldn’t say he was distracted by any means, like on his phone or tipsy. But maybe, just maybe if he would’ve paid some more attention, I wouldn’t hold my breath and close my eyes every time we pass a semi.

Driving will affect everyone for the rest of our lives. Most do it everyday. To combat the harm that may come from driving, more people need to take accountability. It’s crucial to ask yourself, “Should I really be driving right now?” Do you really need to pick a new song to play as you’re flying down the highway? The answer is no. Our generation isn’t bad at driving because we lack the practice or skills, we just hold onto our bad habits. Therefore, when you drive, work on your attitude. Avoid aggressive driving, stay calm and patient, and take breaks if you’re feeling tired. Finally, drive sober. Even a little bit of alcohol can cause impaired judgment and a decreased reaction time. Why take the risk of putting yourself and others in danger? You never know if your car will be the one tumbling across the highway because of your mistakes.