Fourth of July

It was the Fourth of July and my two sisters and I made a quick grocery trip to Target. My sister Erikas now brother in law, Matthew, was born on the Fourth of July and her in laws were throwing a party for him. Ever since my sister and her husband Stefan started dating, her in laws invited our family to Matthews birthday/ Fourth of July parties. My sister Kathy has always had a talent for baking. Every year when we would go to the parties, Kathy was asked to make desserts. The purpose of the trip to Target was to buy the ingredients for her oatmeal cookies that everyone loves. Kathy had to buy flour, eggs, butter and a few other ingredients. I do not remember all the details of this day, except for one impactful and life-changing moment. As my sisters and I were in the car and my sister Erika was turning left on a intersection, we suddenly got into a car crash. I remember everything happening so fast and as we car turned my arms were raised. My eyes were closed but I remember having flour touch my hands in the air as it flew throughout the inside of the car from the impact. Since we were just down the street from our home, my parents and brother came after hearing the news. Some firefighters came and policemen as well. As I was sitting on the curb of where the car stopped, one of the firefighters gave me the emblem of the honda logo from my sisters car. He explained to me how we were very lucky. There was a tree to the left of the car and one of the traffic lights was to the right of the car. If the car would have swerved into either, all three of us would have been really hurt. After the insurance and other information was exchanched with the other person, we all went home and did not go to the birthday party. My mom brought out epsom salt and made us individually take a bath in order to soothe our muscles and nerves from what had occurred. June 20 of this year, I became officially became licensed. The process of learning how to drive in order to achieve my license was a process. I have always carried a fear in the back of my mind since the accident and the road was intimidating. It’s also intimidating when I am in the car with others. Everytime I am in the car with someone and they are driving, I have to be looking out of the front window. It brings me comfort in knowing how they are driving. If a driver steps on the breaks aggresively, my brain immediately assumes the car is about to crash into another and I close my eyes as I am holding something. Once I was finally able to drive, the trauma was something that reoocured in my brain since I wanted to be as safe of a driver as possible. The accident was not life threatening, but it could have been if we or the other driver were going faster or as mentioned, if we went right or left. This is why I believe knowing the rules of the road and driving safely are important. Drivers education is critical in reducing deaths because it teaches new drivers what risks they shouldnt take and what precautions to take when it comes to themselves or when it comes to when they may encounter an unsafe driver. In order to prevent these deaths, some steps to take are reading your local DMV drivers handbook, always pay attention on the road ahead, check your blind spots and mirrors, checking for pedestrains, making safe right or left turns and not to speed past the posted limit. Another useful resource new drivers may take, it driving school. Driving school offers professionals who teach the rules of the road and safety as well. Although these are steps others may use on the road, these can also be applied to myself. While I still have my worries when it comes to the road, I may still make mistakes when it comes to the safety of myself and other drivers on the road. Some areas of weakness I have when it comes to the road are parking, a fear of going on the freeway and also left turns. I just have to remember to be precautious of those around me and on left turns, cautious about the cars coming. Driving safety is an extremely important aspect of the road that everyone should use in order to prevent accidents.