In a Split Second

In a Split Second

As I drove on the highway, the billboard said “In a split second you could ruin your future, injure or kill others, and tear a hole in the heart of everyone who loves you”. Immediately, I began to have flashbacks. My brother and I were going to McDonald’s to get some food for dinner. We were driving our father’s Dodge Charger. Dad did not allow us to drive the Charger often so we were pretty excited to be driving this car. When driving my dad’s car, I felt like I was a superhero roaming over the earth and dictating the moves of the earth. We were playing some old school music and talking to each other. My father always gave advice about music and driving. “Don’t have the music loud while driving,” he would say in my ear. My brother and I were talking loud enough to talk over the music so I periodically took my eyes off the road to engage in the conversation about basketball and friends. All of a sudden Caleb shouted with his arms waving, “hurry, hurry and turn!”

Why do we slow down when someone says “hurry”? Oppositely, this is a slow down phrase warning. At that moment, I needed Caleb to shout a different phrase to get my attention. My brain required a phrase that would force my foot to accelerate the car forward in a fast motion. Unfortunately, my foot was not quick enough. As I was making a left turn in oncoming traffic, a car rushed toward us and hit the back of the car on the passenger side. The force of the oncoming car caused our car to spin around like a merry go round. The car spun around so fast to where it landed on the opposite of the street in opposing traffic. The force of the car accelerating and spinning made my heart jump out of my chest as if I was having open heart surgery.

The cars were stuck together like glue on paper. My brother and I were thrusted forward in a spinning motion. As my mind continued to spin, I began to hear sirens, people talking, and music playing. All the sounds and my brain spinning were too much for me at that moment. In addition to, the torment of wrecking my father’s car was overwhelming. In a split second, my life had changed. Thank God, everyone was not seriously injured. My heart was hurting because I was consumed with disappointing my father. This overwhelming feeling prevented me from talking. Even though I was the older brother, my younger brother, Caleb had to do all the talking to the police and the other driver involved in the accident. While Caleb continued to give the details of the accident, I wanted to crawl under my bed and hide. However, my dad assured me that he would rather have injured the car, than lose his sons.

It has been only a year since I had the accident. I still flinch when turning in front of oncoming traffic. The terror of the crash and the feelings of accountability remind me of what can happen behind the wheel of a car. The moments of the accident continue to play in my brain periodically reminding me that I have to be aware of the road at all times. I am grateful that my experience did not cause someone to lose their life. As a result, I have become more aware of what can happen in a split second.

Teenagers must understand in order to become a safe driver, all drivers need technical ability, plenty of practice behind the wheel, and knowledge about the rules of the road. Accidents can happen in a split second and all drivers see the reality of accidents. Many of my friends think they are exempt from accidents and disasters on the road. They often say, “I can drive and text at the same time, I am able to prevent accidents because I’m careful, I’m the best driver ever”. None of these phrases has prevented accidents from happening.

Teenagers should hear more stories from drivers who have experienced disasters on the road. We need more opportunities for students to hear these life changing stories in person. All teenagers should be required to attend at least three meetings where people share the details of past accidents. Today, teenagers tend to listen to people who are look and sound like them. These stories should come from teenagers to show that accidents can happen in a split second. This may be the difference of a life gone in a split second.