Name: Angel Diaz
From: Hyattsville, Maryland
Votes: 0
Lethal Chore
The fact that driving is part of most people’s daily life
causes it to be treated as an everyday chore but the alarming high
rates of death behind the wheel should be enough to spark some change
and initiative. After acquiring a license, there is no further
drivers ed unless mandated by court in cases of negligence on
the road. There should be a continuing drivers ed, perhaps as a
recap of the original courses after certain years of driving. I can
say from experience that the first couple months after getting my
license I was very attentive on the road and was conscious of most of
the things I learned. After so many years one tends to forget
information that is not put to use or reviewed. A reminder of safe
driving habits and the dangers of driving would benefit drivers who
may be too comfortable on the road today. Any accident has the
potential for injury or death and any chance to help avoid that
should be considered. Apart from the obvious distractions that most
of us allow such phones and passenger conversations, there are other
hazards that we may be completely ignorant of. We can’t be prepared
for every scenario but we can educate ourselves as much as we can.
The year was 2016, I was fresh out of highschool confident
and excited to explore a new world of employment waiting for me.
Residential remodeling was my first job as an official working adult.
I got the call at 3 in the morning, a disturbing time compared to
that which I’m accustomed to, saying there was an emergency and
that I had to report to yesterday’s job A.S.A.P. Even though I was
just a helper, It was my responsibility to pick up and drive the work
van with all our tools. Half asleep, I made my way to the job and
coming off the freeway; it happened. A shadow jumped out from the
side of the road and in the blink of an eye was struck by the car
ahead of me sending it tumbling and rolling on the asphalt. It was
less than a second before my headlights reached and revealed the deer
that I too was about to impale. With no time to think I slammed my
brakes and swerved off to my left side hoping to avoid it but failed
to miss it completely. It felt like taking a speed hump only with my
right side tires at 50 pmh. The combination of the swerving and
jumping of my tires was enough for my car to start spinning
uncontrollably in the middle of the highway. Unable to gather any
coherent thought during the longest 3 seconds I’ve ever lived
through, my arms locked on the wheel and my entire body shook while I
spun and saw the road behind me become the road in front and then
behind again a few times before slamming the guard rail that put an
abrupt stop to my raging vehicle but not to the tremble in my arms
that still gripped the steering wheel. A good Samaritan pulled up on
the shoulder to check on me and called the authorities. I lived with
only a sprained shoulder, some hospital bills and an expensive guard
rail repair to pay for.
In total I was $5,000 in debt after the accident. I later
found out that when in the situation of possibly hitting a deer the
last thing you are to do is swerve if there is no chance to safely
stop, it is recommended to stay in your lane and slow down if you can
but not to brake during impact to maintain the front of the car
elevated. I honestly can’t remember if avoiding deer maneuvers were
taught in my drivers ed but perhaps if I had been educated or
re-educated on the matter, I would not have swerved and there might
not have been such an accident.
