“Drive Safe I Love You”

In 2021, I was hit by a car while riding my bicycle. I can still clearly remember all of the minute details of that day; the smell of freshly cut grass and decaying leaves, the commotion of the street traffic, and all the pretty colors of a northeastern October sunset. I was lucky, only suffering deep tissue bruising and minor abrasions. After a few weeks of walking with a limp, my body had healed enough for me to resume my first collegiate cross country season. Although I made a full physical recovery after just two months, it took much longer to mentally reconcile the traumatic events of that fateful day.

Ever since I was hit, I have been more aware of the bustling streets filled with a blur of passing cars. Sometimes I wonder where each person is going. Are they running late for an important appointment? In my case, the woman who hit me was heading home from a long day at work, just pulling out of the driveway of my town’s local hair parlor. That Monday in October of 2021 increased my awareness of distracted driving. Ever since the accident, I am struck dumb by the seemingly constant dangers that driving poses. Once, on separate occasions, I witnessed a woman painting her nails and a man shaving his beard while driving! Most commonly, I see driver after driver texting at the wheel.

Accidents related to distracted driving seem overwhelmingly common, unfortunately. Last year, coincidentally also in October, I was rear-ended while driving at a stop sign. We did the usual dance, pulling to the side of the road, exchanging insurance cards, filing a police report. Although the situation rattled me, no one was hurt. My car just had a couple of dings and scratches, no big deal. Then again, two weeks later, I witnessed not one but two more accidents within a week! One was at a stoplight, an uneventful fender bender. The other one was more serious; a few cars piled up on the highway. I was driving home from my university to visit my family for the weekend. As soon as I got home, I told my dad how shocked I was. What are the odds that someone rear-ends me, and then I witness two accidents back-to-back all within a few weeks.

Not all car accidents are related to distracted driving. Mistakes happen all the time. In fact, the number of road-related mistakes can be lessened with improved driver education. Especially for new drivers, it is important to understand traffic laws in order to drive safely. When I was a nascent driver, I didn’t know exactly how to approach sharing the road with large vehicles like school buses and semi-trucks. Moreover, many accidents can be prevented by removing distractions. This is much easier said than done as it is easy to become distracted. There is so much to think about and to keep track of: when my final is due, what my coach said at practice, and so on. Not to mention the countless external distractions constantly beckoning for attention: the radio, the phone call, you name it.

My older sister understood this, so she gave me a simple reminder to drive with caution – a small sticker in the shape of a text bubble to put in the corner of my rearview mirror. I see the message “Drive safe I love you” every single time I start my car’s engine. Every time I pull out of my driveway, it is an important reminder to slow down and drive defensively.

Personally, this constant reminder helps me drive without distractions. Those five simple words remind me of who I stay safe for. They remind me to drive intentionally, to get rid of distractions before the wheels start moving. And like most people, my cell phone is my biggest distraction. To combat this, I queue up the perfect playlist and pull up the directions in the driveway before I leave. I have my phone hooked up to the hands-free bluetooth feature, allowing me to answer a call without needing to fumble for my phone. If I don’t need my GPS, I keep my cell phone in the center console of my car or zipped up in my bookbag. If I have a passenger riding shotgun, I ask them to transcribe a message, give me directions, or act as my personal DJ. After all, distracted driving is preventable. Removing those distractions and always driving with intention keeps the people you love safer. It protects you, the driver beside you, and all their loved ones.