Within the Blink of an Eye

Within
the Blink of an Eye

One
second you are driving with your little sister asleep in the
backseat, you check a new text message that you have just received,
and the next thing you remember is waking up in the hospital.
Privilege. Driving is a privilege, not a right. One only earns a
driver’s permit/license after they have gone through the imperative
educational lessons and has shown a satisfactory exhibition of the
skills. These teachings are crucial to the adolescent’s mind as they
instill and prioritize what matters most when they are on the road.
Speed limits, construction sites, yielding, traffic signals, all are
vital rules to master in hopes of reducing the number of deaths as a
result of driving. Education is the primary area of focus in reducing
fatalities. In a matter of seconds, family relationships could be
demolished, and the devastating effects of a serious crash could ruin
someone’s chances to ever walk or breathe again.

Additional
lessons and timed sessions should be included in the school-based
‘Drivers Ed’ Course to ensure that students are not skipping or
simply skimming through essential information. Likewise, increasing
the number of signs and signals on changing roads, through
intersections, and entering/exiting highways should be implemented.
This would reduce the uneasiness that occurs when one has to drive
through unfamiliar territory and face confusion due to a lack of
speed limit signs. The more information provided, the more confident
drivers will be on the road which will decrease the number of deaths
related to driving.

My
father was involved in two motorcycle accidents where neither were
his fault. The first occurred when a drunk driver in a van made a
left turn in front of him. My father had the right of way going
straight which resulted in him crashing into the side of the van. The
second happened when a deer jumped right on top of his motorcycle
windshield when he was driving home from work one night. The impact
caused my father to be knocked off the motorcycle and slide
approximately five hundred feet on the pavement. By a pure blessing,
he was wearing a helmet and the right clothing to protect him.
Without the kevlar suit, I’m not sure my father would have made it
out alive. I personally have witnessed a car crash happen right in
front of me due to a lack of knowledge for how to yield at a
roundabout. Not being afraid to ask questions when I am in doubt of a
situation has proven highly beneficial to my driving experience. When
it comes to my family and friends, monitoring their driving decisions
on the road allows me to learn but also offer constructive criticism
that could save someone within the blink of an eye.