Reckless Driving and Alien Encounters: My Journey to Safer Roads

When I think of reckless driving, I envision aliens invading—unexpected, chaotic, and dangerous, don’t worry I will definitely get into why. Last summer, my best friend and I were driving together to the stables to check on some horses. We were idling at a red light with two cars in front of us, everything was normal. When the light turned green and traffic began to move, a reckless driver ran a red light and T-boned my friend’s car while we were in the intersection, striking the passenger door where I was sitting. When I regained consciousness, the light had turned red again, and people were rushing towards us from all directions. I looked over and saw my friend unconscious, her head resting on the steering wheel atop the deflated airbag. I have never been so scared, I called out her name and thankfully she looked up and around within the vehicle. I told her we needed to get out of the car as I was seeing fumes. We got out, called 911, and waited on the roadside. We were both trembling like leaves and you would like we were giving each other a handshake as we held hands. I had a cut on my chest from the seatbelt, but thankfully, that was my only injury. It could have been worse if I hadn’t been wearing one.

The police questioned us, and I remembered it was a black sedan driven by a woman. Although I lost vision for some time directly following the impact, I felt the driver accelerating, pushing my friend’s car away before screeching off. The next day, I learned from the news that the driver continued recklessly into another jurisdiction and had avoided police. We didn’t hear anything following the accident until around 2 months later. The lead investigator called to ask if we wanted to press charges. This is when my friend and I informed him that we didn’t know the driver had been found, much less in police custody. He then informed us that she had been caught the following day after our accident. She was immediately tested for drugs and alcohol, surprisingly all toxicology testing came back negative. Initially, she denied having hit any vehicles, but her story changed during her second interrogation, and she admitted to causing numerous accidents that day, claiming she drove recklessly because she believed aliens were coming and she needed to warn everyone. This is also where we learned that we were not the only vehicle she had collided with during her pursuit.

I openly admit that I used to speed until getting pulled over and receiving a traffic ticket. Fortunately, I was able to attend a diversion class. To my surprise, I was truly impacted by the class, becoming a safer driver. I learned that in my state, there’s no law holding a reckless driver accountable if someone dies in an accident. Now, I ensure I have enough time to reach my destination, consider traffic, and only speed to keep up with traffic flow or avoid danger. I began driving safely over a year before the accident and my friend was also a respectful driver. That day all we did was cross the intersection at a green light, that’s all it took for us to have become a statistic. We believe no one should lose someone to reckless driving. Even now, quick movements from merging cars or vehicles at side streets remind us of that traumatic day.

The class educated me on road rules and important statistics, like driving being the most dangerous daily activity. Friends and peers often tease me for driving the speed limit, stopping fully at stop signs, and refusing to ever run red lights or speed, but their comments don’t bother me. I’d rather drive safely and prevent taking someone’s life. I believe every driver should take such a class before getting their license. Some might dismiss it, but others will be deeply impacted by the stories of loss due to reckless driving. Understanding how our actions affect others is crucial for driving responsibly.

To reduce driving-related deaths, society must address distractions, especially cell phone use while driving. Although laws exist against it, enforcement is challenging. Rewarding good behavior is also difficult without proof. If mandatory classes aren’t feasible, the government could incentivize them with money or tax benefits. Understanding the problem comprehensively is essential for effective solutions. While some may ignore the courses, many will find benefit in education and drive safer, influenced by their knowledge in the consequences of poor decisions.

In the past two years, I’ve heard complaints from many around me about others driving carelessly, oftentimes, disregarding safety because of their own schedules. The best advice I can offer is to pay attention to the road and avoid distractions such as cellphones, be considerate of others, allow enough travel time, and always wear a seatbelt. Ensure your vehicle complies with airbag needs and have tools to assist in emergencies, like breaking a window or administering first aid. These small actions can make the difference between life and death. No one is the perfect driver, since the accident, I’ve been nervous while crossing any and all intersections, often looking both ways, which can delay traffic or distract me from any vehicles in front or behind me. Although, this is a PTSD response, also shared by my friend, as a reminder of our traumatic experience, we actively continue to drive places together and we push ourselves to not allow this behavior to become disruptive.

Throughout my life, I’ve prioritized advocacy, starting in high school when I began in the veterinary science industry, from a young age I decided I would be the voice for all animals. This experience has driven me to also advocate for safe driving, encouraging people to consider others and themselves before getting behind the wheel. Driver education is crucial in reducing driving-related deaths, and by sharing our stories, sharing how they have affected us and promoting safer habits, we can help create safer roads for everyone.