Accident Appreciation

Kaitlyn Nichols

Driver Education Initiative

Scholarship

18 October 2020

Accident Appreciation

      Every time I drive by the black skid marks on the old country road, I remember my “almost” accident. With my Luke Combs playlist booming on my radio, the windows down, and the warm, summer wind rustling my hair, I embarked on my journey home as I did every time after I left my boyfriend’s house. As I approached the gravel corner that intersected with the two-lane highway, music was in the spotlight of my mind when my focus should have been on the road. I was unable to slow down as I reached the corner, losing control of my car. I swerved to avoid hitting the culvert head on, tearing the plastic undercoating of my car and leaving black skid marks, as dark as midnight, across the two-lane highway full of oncoming traffic.  

      If I would have known that my “almost” car accident was going to happen on that peaceful evening, I would have turned down my blaring music, paid more attention to the unfamiliar road, and rolled up my windows so that I could concentrate on the loose gravel ahead. If an individual can prepare for what “might” happen, they can help save lives and promote driving safety through their actions. One way to do so is to take a Driver’s Education class. Doing so can allow you to avoid the mistakes that not only I, but thousands of drivers have made, by distracting themselves.  The driving program can also help you to familiarize yourself with the rules of the road, giving you an advantage of being knowledgeable in how to react in strained situations. Many people believe that they will not be in a position like mine, but life is unpredictable and can change at the drop of a hat.

      Multitasking is not a wise idea when it comes to driving. For example, a driver should shy away from, eating, talking on the phone, texting, and taking care of their pets on the road. These examples also include the “one second” to look at your phone to skip an annoying song that you have heard repeatedly. If you need any of these things, including many others that may be a diversion or distraction to your driving, pull over in a secure area before completing the task! Pulling over is just one step you can complete to become a more exceptional, guarded driver.

       When driving with a passenger make sure to slow down. You are now not only putting your own life at risk, but theirs as well. The driver is responsible for all passengers in the vehicle and is compelled to maintain their safety. This statement means that everyone needs to buckle up and checking this is the driver’s responsibility. So, yes, there is a reason for the aggravating dinging that is being caused by your co-pilot not buckling up. 

It is the little details that seem unimportant and can be the dividing line between life and death. The start of creating safer drivers begins with us, people on this Earth that want to make a change, people that want to help others become aware of the consequences of what could happen. I do not want anyone to have to go through what I did, but I am grateful for my experience as it has given me a different outlook on driver and passenger safety that I hope to share with everyone I meet, including you. My life could have changed in that instant at that gravel intersection, and so can yours. Stay safe, buckle up, and educate yourself.