Changing a world with a single act

The importance of driving education is to reduce the number of deaths resulting from on-the-road collisions and accidents just like it had with my family.

Ten years ago my husband, Chris, and I were heading home from work. He was driving and I was in the passenger seat. We had just turned off the 202 and came to a stop at the red light, with our blinker on to indicate that we were preparing – upon the green arrow to turn left onto the 87 interstate. As we waited for the colors to slowly change, a smaller car pulled into the middle lane – next to us, with his turn blinker on too: indicating he was also turning left. (Which was legal as both lanes were turn lanes) The driver of the car next to us was an elderly man and we would later find out that he had served in the Vietnam war.

What happened next I will never forget: ingrained in my memories as what happened could have changed the course of Chris’ and my world and did in fact, change the world for the Vietnam vet. The green arrow came on, indicating to them both, my husband and the Vet, that we’re now legally allowed to turn. They put their feet against the pedals, preparing to accelerate.

However, at the last minute and without any warning, my husband slams his foot on the break. With a small jerk, I was tugged back by my seatbelt into the chair. Before I could ask him why, I already had my answer, in the form of a loud screech and a bang of the crash in front of my very eyes.

A guy who had been on the 87 came flying down, sped straight through the red light, and struck the Vet’s car in full force. Within minutes of the crash, my husband had unbuckled himself and had gotten out to help, already pulling his cell phone out. While I was to stay in the car, for protection purposes – I could see that he was already dialing the three sacred numbers as he went to make sure both drivers were okay.

It was a good thing I stayed in the car because upon getting out of the car, the guy who ran through the stop light and caused the crash attempted to barter with Chris not to call the cops, going as far as to threaten to steal our vehicle if we did (the one I was currently in.) Thankfully, the cops were hearing all of this over Chris’ phone, and the guy bolted on foot: too fearful of being caught, over getting a ticket.

No wonder too: when the cops showed up they found that the car when striking the Vet was going at least ninety miles per hour (in a sixty-five), empty liquor bottles in the back of the car, the vehicle’s registration had been expired for over two years, and had been reported stolen. The Vet was taken to the hospital and told that he would more than likely be paralyzed from the waist down, for the rest of his life. The cops went on the search for the hit-and-run driver. Sadly, even after ten years: they have still never found that driver.

There did not need to be a collision that night: there were many options that he could have taken instead. The driver could have gotten a taxi home or called someone to pick him up that night instead of stealing one, especially while he was intoxicated. He could have been going the speed limit. He could have seen the red light and came to a stop. He could have prevented the accident altogether and prevented the elderly man from being paralyzed.

While Chris could have done nothing to stop the accident himself, the fact that he was vigilant was the reason he slammed on his brakes before the accident. I know that if Chris hadn’t stopped when he did, it would have been my husband and me, paralyzed or worse.

There are many things that people can do, including myself, to minimize the deaths that occur each year from vehicle accidents. Some of my best suggestions for new and existing drivers alike would be: to remain vigilant, always look over your shoulder for your blind spots, give people room and respect on the road since everyone there is just as important as you, and slow down. Most people are in a hurry with life and want to get to where they’re going, now: but they don’t realize that if you don’t slow down, there might not be any time after the drive.

My husband followed the rules of the road in that scenario: he was vigilant, he looked over his shoulders at his blind spots, he gave people room on the road, and he slowed down when needed. He saved my life, and for that, I will not only be grateful but will always see driving differently and be more careful with the responsibility.