Interstate Awareness

It is something I will never forget. I had my learners permit, and was driving home from my basketball practice with my mom in the passenger seat. We were on the interstate and just passed through a construction area. It was nighttime but there was still a lot of traffic.  After we got through the construction zone, the traffic started to slow again and there were police officers directing everyone to merge over to the next lane. As we approached what appeared to be a single vehicle accident there was some debris in the roadway. There was just a single pick-up truck that appeared to have struck the dividing wall of the interstate. There was not an ambulance on scene yet and there did not appear to be much damage to the truck and just a couple police officers trying to help with traffic. As we continued past the police officers, what I witnessed is something I will never forget. In the left lane of the interstate there was a man lying in the roadway that had just lost his life because of the accident. I immediately started crying. He was just lying there alone, his life taken and his family forever changed and they probably did not even know yet. I did not know his name, his story or what even caused the accident but I do know it is something that I will always think of when I get behind the wheel. Life can change in a second and any decision we make while driving cannot only change my life but others as well. The rest of the drive home was quiet and I just had an overwhelming feeling of sadness. That moment definitely had a big impact on driver safety for me.

I think driver’s education plays an important role in helping reduce the number of deaths in driving but I believe getting a lot practice behind the wheel is just as important as what is taught in the classroom or in the online classes. I also feel like the driving instruction portion should spend more time on the interstates. The interstates can be very dangerous and I do not feel that all young drivers are prepared. I was fortunate that my parents let me drive on the interstate quite often when I had my permit and that has definitely prepared me and made me much more confirmation driving on the interstate. I even drove through Atlanta, Georgia when I was only 17. I know some of my friends that have never been back on the interstate since their driver’s education class. The interstate can definitely be intimidating with all the traffic, the semis and just the higher rate of speed but I do feel that driver education should make sure young drivers are prepped and confident to drive the interstate.

Many of the interstate crashes are caused by rear-end collision, speeding or driver distraction. The traffic on the interstates are so heavy that all it takes is one mistake to cause a change reaction accident resulting in many injuries or deaths especially with the speed limit on the interstates. Young drivers need to be aware of the surroundings especially while on the interstate. Is traffic slowing ahead? Is there construction? Is there semi with a tire that is blown? Is that car going to serve over into my lane? There are so many factors that we need to be aware of on the interstate. My hope is the better we can prepare young drivers and get them comfortable on the interstate that would help reduce the number of deaths related to driving.

I would like to finish by also making sure all young drivers and passengers wear their seat belts whether on highways, interstates or just city roads and to put down the cell phones. I do not even think twice when I get in car to buckle up. As young drivers, we need to make sure our friends are wearing their seatbelts too. Even if we are safe and good drivers, you never know who else may be on the road. I often think of the man that lost his life on the interstate that night. I never found out who he was, or what caused the accident. It is a reminder to me too always buckle up and not only attention to my driving but be aware of other drivers as well. Life can change so quickly, especially when you are behind the wheel.