Spa Day

Spa Day

April 14^th, 2018 would be the day our lives were forever changed. It was a bright Saturday Morning in Atlanta, Georgia, and all six lanes of the I-85 southbound highway were rumbling with traffic. My mother and I were cruising down the road, singing our radio favorites, and chatting about how great my hair was going to look after our Salon appointment downtown. Who knew that a girls’ spa day would turn into such a horrific event?

Midway through our conversation, we heard a loud beep. Then, a white light flashed before our eyes. As the car spun, the barrier wall to my right became larger with each turn. Quickly, I shut my eyes and braced for impact. The passenger side of the car slammed into the wall and halted our spinning. Fortunately, I was able to walk away from this traumatic experience with only a minor concussion. My mother, however, had to undergo a life altering brain surgery to remove a trauma induced aneurysm. According to the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, an aneurysm is a bulge or ballooning in a blood vessel in the brain, it is fatal in 50% of cases, and 66% of those that survive will suffer permanent damage. Due to this Accident, my mother is now one of these strong survivors.

What caused such misfortune? One bad lane switch. The driver who caused this accident did not only forget to turn on their indicators, but also tried to cross over two lanes at once! This one reckless action caused so much pain in our lives, but it also taught me a valuable lesson. A person could follow all the road rules and still subject themselves to being in an accident. Also, being a vigilant driver by paying close attention to one’s surroundings is extremely important. Although, many people can agree that a distracted driver is a danger to themselves and others, they still allow certain distractions when driving.

There are three main types of distraction: visual, manual, and cognitive. Visual is when one takes their eyes off the road, manual is when one is takes their hands off the wheel, and cognitive is when one’s attention is not on driving. The CDC provides statistics that show about 3,000 people die in crashes involving a distracted driver every year in the United Sates. Just in 2018 alone, about 400,000 people were injured in by a distracted driver. Through these facts, one can conclude that distracted driving is a pressing issue. Going forward, what are some steps people can take to be more aware on the road?

There is a plethora of actions people can take to eliminate distractions while driving, but the main idea is not to multitask when behind the wheel. Of course, this can be a difficult task for many drivers, so here are some solutions to limit multitasking for drivers. Put your phone on silent before you start driving, this will make you less inclined to pick it up. Make preferred adjustments before you get on the road; this includes your radio, volume, A/C, mirrors, and seat. Do not try to do complicated tasks while driving; like doing your makeup, eating/drinking, looking for dropped items, or anything else that adverts your attention from the road. Yes, these may seem like small and simple changes, but if implemented correctly, they have the power to save lives.

I implore readers to try some of these tips the next time they get on the road. If more people choose to practice vigilant driving, it will reduce the number of people who suffer the consequences of distracted driving. Through sharing my family’s firsthand experience with a distracted driver, I hope this essay will encourage others to pay extra close attention to the road. Hence, practicing good habits whilst driving, can save lives.

-Anya Walker

Sources

https://www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/Distracted_Driving/index.html

https://bafound.org/about-brain-aneurysms/brain-aneurysm-basics/brain-aneurysm-statistics-and-facts/

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