How Driver Safety could’ve changed my life

In this day and age, there are many distractions on the road. From deer to cell phones, there are always things that could cause accidents. However, these are nothing compared to the car accidents caused by reckless driving. Driver safety is so important, not only for the driver and passengers in the car, but also for the ones passing them, or driving next to them.

It is so important that drivers are properly educated when they get their licenses. This thorough education could prevent multiple deaths. I know that in my case if the car in front of me had realized that it was illegal to turn his car off in the middle of the road at night time, he could have easily prevented the accident.

There can be many steps taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving as well. For one, before anyone gets a license or a permit, they should be made to take at least one in-person class, discussing road laws and the proper way that people should be driving. I know for a fact that most fresh drivers do not take their Joshua’s Law seriously, and instead, they goof around and answer questions quickly just so they can get their permit and license. Doing this does not help anyone in the end, because they do not get to thoroughly read and understand the laws and procedures of the road.

I also feel as though we should also inform new drivers what to do in emergencies. For example, a man was driving and he went into cardiac arrest and wrecked. We should teach drivers common safety procedures if they were to ever witness a situation like this. I know in our town, the main reason for deaths in car accidents is that no one at the scene knew how to help. We could teach them things like how to give CPR, make a tourniquet, or even just teach them that they should always help others. If people feel the need to drive, we should make it certain that the people who are driving are responsible and well-educated. I feel as though driving is a privilege that only some should have.

Another thing that we could do to reduce deaths in car accidents is to make sure no one is using their phones. The cars that are being produced nowadays all have Bluetooth connections, and even carplay or something similar. These things can answer phone calls, text messages, and even send emails for you and all you have to do is say it aloud in the car. I know that even in the older models of cars, there is an installation kit you can buy for less than 200 dollars and then you can do the responsible thing and not pick up your phone.

I personally have been involved in a car accident myself, so I can truly understand and empathize with others on why driver education is so truly important. On September 11 of 2022, I was driving home from my grandparent’s house (who lived five minutes away) that night, and I had an awful car accident. It was around 8:30 and it had just gotten dark, so I knew I needed to get home because I had school in the morning. I was on the road on my way home, when I saw brake lights flash. I assumed the car that was so far in front of me had seen a deer, because that road is known to have many deer. Plus, the fact that there were no lights on the road made it even worse.

After I saw the brake lights go away, I knew that the car had indeed just seen a deer and kept driving. This road was very hilly, so within thirty seconds, I could not see the lights on his car. After I topped a hill on the road, I realized that the driver, in fact, did not slow down because there was a deer. He had slowed down so he could turn off his car. As most young drivers do, I was going around 63 miles per hour when I saw the back of his black Audi. So of course, I tried to swerve around his car. I barely hit his car and caused little damage. He even got his car fixed after our collision.

Whenever I swerved, I got to the opposite side of the road and tried to brake, but instead, I pressed the gas. It was night time and my airbags had already deployed, so I could not see what I was doing. Whenever I tried to press the brake and realign myself onto the road, my white Jeep compass started flipping. My car slid over two hundred feet and flipped MULTIPLE times. Once the car finally stopped, I tried so hard to get out of the car that I even lost one of my shoes. I finally managed to get myself up, and even had to kick out the windshield with my own two feet. The paramedics arrived and even tried to lifelight me. They said they truly did not understand how I survived this bad of a car accident. I made it out of that car with nothing but bloody arms and a fractured elbow.

Realizing that this happened to me and I did not die, I have been far more cautious while driving. I feel as though before my accident, I was just another brand-new driver, with no experience and simply wanting to drive fast. Since my accident, I have been an example to others, by sharing my story and also telling people to drive safely. I remind others that it is better to arrive late than to not arrive at all. It’s the safe and responsible choice to be a better driver and everyone should understand that it is their choice to make.