Like a Bullet from a Gun

If a person sees an animal with soft pillows of fur and large, moony eyes, they might be tempted to pet it. If the animal has teeth and the person is unaware, that person will lose a large chunk of their hand. Comparing a fluffy animal to driving a vehicle might seem a little strange, but to me, there is a strong similarity.

To many drivers, the act of driving holds no intimidation. Much like a cute wild animal, people fail to perceive any sort of threat from it. Within it, though, is the most dangerous form of threat: the kind that is only recognized in its aftermath. Many people falsely believe that driving is as flexible an action as breathing, with such automation that there can be no fault in multitasking. Driving, instead, should be seen as surgery, with grave consequences should one fail to perform correctly.

My eyes were opened to the dangers of driving on an icy morning in January. My brother and I were returning home from an event, drowsy due to the early hour. The heater in the cold made me sleepy, and I closed my eyes for a while. When I opened them, our car was drifting off to the side. My brother was asleep at the wheel.

I shouted and shook him awake, and he slammed on the brakes. We crashed into a streetlight going sixty miles per hour, and before I could register what was happening, our car was rolling backwards down the muddy slope. My chest hit the dashboard, barely restrained by the seatbelt. The car suddenly stopped, and I realized that I could not breathe.

We heard a groan, and the streetlight swung around and landed on the hood of our car. We wrestled, but the doors would not open easily, and the engine was beginning to smoke. The streetlight hit two other cars, and once the drivers realized where the light was swinging, they darted to our car in order to help us.

Fortunately, my brother and I were not severely hurt. Though my chest hit the dashboard, no ribs were broken, though I was left with a hideous black bruise that stretched from my bottom ribs to my collarbone. My brother’s arm had a small cut from the edge of his seatbelt, but otherwise he was uninjured. My brother still apologizes for the accident to this day, though I have never and will never criticize him for it.

Before that event, I never gave much thought to sitting in a car. Riding in a vehicle was the same to me as sitting in a chair. After my experience, however, I realized that cars are merely oversized bullets. They are fired casually, with no thought of their destructive potential. I carry a fear of the freeway with me now, though it helps me more than it hinders me. I have a heightened awareness of the drivers around me, which contributes to my spotless driving record.

If someone dives into the ocean without knowing there are rocks at the bottom, how will they fare? If someone tells them about the rocks and shows them a safer place to dive, then that person can continue with no danger to their life. In the same way, people should be educated about the dangers of driving. If they see the rocks ahead, they can avoid them, otherwise they risk jumping head-first into danger.

Many deaths related to driving could be avoided if people understood its true danger. I once saw footage of a driving simulation that tested how long it would take for a distracted driver to crash. By looking away, it took less than three seconds for a collision to occur. If such facts were made clear, such as being placed into written driving tests, I believe that thousands of people could be saved. If someone knew their life could end in three seconds, would they want to look away for that time?

As I typed this essay, I realized that if I share my experiences with other people, I might help them become safer drivers. Cars are practical tools and are wonderful when proper caution is exercised, but many drivers relax and provide themselves with distractions on the road. Three seconds distracted can lead to death, and would someone truly be happy to die for a funny text or a bite of a sandwich?

Though I drive safely, there is always a way I can work to be safer. I need to always make sure that I use my turn signals, carefully watch other drivers on the road, and avoid the temptation to look away from where I am going. When I am in a vehicle with another driver, I will immediately tell them if what they are doing is unsafe, even if it makes me a “killjoy.” I will always prefer being irksome to being in mourning.