Road safety is a choice

On January 4th, 2016 my family were coming back from a dinner celebration of my father’s 56th birthday. We were relaxing, parents conversing in the front seat while I lay sideways on the cupholder in the back seat, texting friends. Tired, happy, excited to finally get home to play with my puppy, maybe even watch the newest episode of my favorite cartoon series Steven Universe.

From my parents asking about how excited I was to be on the dance team next year, to going back into dance for solo competitions. The night left a high note on what to expect for the future, since new years was only a few days ago optimism rushed through my heart. Following the traffic signals, my father stopped at the red light as the engine purred.

Before a single sentence could be uttered a large force rammed through the tail end of our car. Glass shards sprinkled all over our clothing, felt a huge bump throw my forehead to the back of the car’s compartment. Mom’s head hit the dash, while my father hit the wheel.It took us a hot minute to understand what exactly happened, sirens were beeping as lights flashed everything felt like a daze before being escorted out of the backseat and onto the sidewalk by EMS.

The EMS checked each sensory by a flashlight to the eyes, and even pulse. Momma hugged me tightly as she sobbed, stroking my hair. Same with my father who was shaken up asking if I was okay. It didn’t register into my mind till being told hours later at the hospital that I was unresponsive for a solid 20 minutes and wouldn’t wake up.

The driver who rammed full force into our car was a young waitress who was driving home like us, however she was texting and driving since not paying attention to how fast the car went. Tail ended our car at 60 MPHs. The trunk was completely crushed. Smashed cake, and leftovers from dinner sprinkled with glass. If we didn’t have extra space inside that tail end, I would’ve been killed.

The accident left me with chronic back pain that affects my daily life, for a long time I could barely tie my own shoelaces no less. Having ADD, and autism the dead nerves in my spine is an everlasting torture that will never go away. Could never pursue the solo, or join the dance team like I wanted.

It even gave me anxiety to get behind a wheel at all, my family had to keep encouraging me that it was the first step towards being an adult, yet I’d have frequent nightmares about dying in a horrific car crash similar to the one which involved the waitress. Overtime, I settled my fears to become an alert, diligent driver on every trip to ensure safety as my protocol. Not to put my passengers in danger but also other drivers to have guaranteed safety.

Even after this incident, texting and driving is such a common problem that it plagues the roadway. In the same state I’m from in North Carolina, there was a saddening story about a cheery woman who was texting and driving, posting how happy she was on facebook only to be killed by a logging truck she collided with.

Not long after this tragic story, our lawmakers put in a strict no texting state law that ensures if a driver is caught doing the act by a deputy they’ll get a $100.00 fine alongside a class 2 misdemeanor on their record. Which is the right step forward in helping others ensure their safety, as well prevent stories like mine from happening.

Regardless, every day cannot go one day without seeing at least one young adult in their twenties, or a teenager texting and driving on the road as their car sways side to side. One brief incident involved a young man who was in front of my car, I was driving home from work and this lad kept swerving his car, nearly side ended the truck beside him. Watching the car nearly collide and take an exit, followed suit for safety. Taking a glance over for a mere second gave a depressing realization the boy had been texting and driving behind the wheel. It didn’t matter if a law was in place, it didn’t matter if danger was on the line, what gender, or age you are. Prioritizing safety is a conscious choice.

Road safety is crucial for the survival of all of us, whether it be drinking under the influence or ignoring red lights. It might be a fun trill in the moment, feeling the rush of adrenaline but… you could drastically change someone’s life forever.