It Only Takes 4 Seconds

In 2022, on a hot August morning, I experienced firsthand the consequences of texting and driving. In a matter of 4 seconds, my car was hit on the rear right side, making me spin more than a merry-go-round would in a children’s playground. In a matter of 4 seconds, my parents would have lost a daughter, my brothers a sister, my grandparents a granddaughter, and me… my life. When the spinning finally reached an abrupt stop, I was breathless, and my body stiff. Everything slowed down, yet so much was happening so fast. I patted myself to ensure I was indeed alive. I couldn’t believe I had survived that crash. Yet, I did. Since that day, I created a system for myself that ensures I never again experience a situation such as the one described above.

Driver education is such a vital component for all drivers, new or veterans to driving, and should be implemented more. I remember being in my third year of high school taking a drivers ed course, taking a test, and obtaining my drivers permit. I didn’t feel confident in myself to get behind a wheel because I felt underprepared with a sense of having learned nothing about driving and what it entails. According to a research, drivers between the ages of 16 and 17 have the highest related injuries and death (Olszewski, 2024). Among the top reasons behind teenage drivers causing the most crashes are lack of driving experience, driving while distracted (texting, checking social media, changing the radio or choosing a song while driving), reckless driving, and staying safe.

Since August of 2022, I have changed many habits that I once believed were harmless. Changing the music on my phone, quickly glancing at my phone when a notification brightened my screen, or simply checking the time on the phone too many times takes your attention away from the road, the most important task you have while driving. Again, 4 seconds, that’s all it can take to almost end a life, your life. A few months after my accident, I began to put my phone on ‘Do Not Disturb’ while I drove. I spoke to my family members and asked them to not contact me while driving unless it was an immediate emergency. I also placed my phone face down on the seat, or just simply left it in my purse. To further ensure my safety and that of the other drivers, I created a playlist of music that I was confident I wouldn’t tire of and played it before beginning to drive in order to avoid having to change or skip a song while driving.

Driver education involves learning about the rules and regulations of the road. In addition, it teaches us to pay attention to traffic signs, obey speed limits, and how to handle a car properly. Furthermore, driver education also teaches important topics such as steering, breaking, accelerating, traffic signs and their meaning, drunk driving and distracted and/or unsafe driving are covered in driver education and can potentially save lives. Yet, without the driver behind the wheel understanding and applying their driving knowledge on the road, accidents and death are less and less unavoidable. I believe that the better equipped drivers are, and the more consistent a driver is following the rules of the road, the chances of accidents decrease, and the prevention of accidents increase.

In my opinion, one way to enhance and promote safe driving is to introduce what safe driving looks like, and the consequences unsafe driving can bring, earlier than a year before someone obtains their driving permit. Schools, especially high schools, should incorporate driver education curriculums in the first year of high school (Freshman) to ensure future drivers are exposed to the enjoyment, but also possible risks of getting behind the wheel. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), learning about safe driving and the rules and regulations of driving, especially teens, decreases the likelihood of crashes by 13% (2021). Yet, it is important to note that not everyone can afford driving lessons, especially teens who might not even have a job yet. Therefore, it is essential to have accessible education programs. This is a step closer in ensuring that people can learn and become responsible drivers.

Unfortunately, it took me being in an accident to truly grasp the importance of safe driving. I believe that another measure to enforce safe driving is to have open and honest conversations about the implications and responsibilities driving has. Now, instead of staying quiet and fearing for my safety, I speak up and express to the driver if I am feeling uncomfortable with their driving. If I am at a party and went with friends and we end up drinking, I opt to request an uber instead of endangering anyone’s life by driving while intoxicated or letting someone else intoxicated drive. In addition, sharing my experience in a car accident and how it has changed my perspective can be a powerful way to get the point across that unsafe driving can cause serious consequences.

The roads are a privilege we use to get to where we need to be with convenience. As a careless driver once myself, I can attest to how traumatic an experience like this can be. Not only did I put myself in danger, but also someone else. Now, I am more aware than ever when on the road, not only about my driving, but the driving of others around me. Thinking back to my accident, I remember feeling angry that this person had hit me, when it was I who had run a red light. When I looked at my lap, the reason I was so distracted showed no signs of injuries. My phone was intact. And now, I do everything in my power to avoid experiencing, or causing, those 4 seconds ever again.