Impacting Generations

All throughout my life, my mother would remind me to be vigilant when crossing the road. “Look both ways!” she would always say. It was said so often that it became a jokingly humorous game between the two of us. When we would approach a busy intersection together, it was a race for who could say it out loud first.

When I became old enough to get my driver’s permit, my mother, putting all jokes aside, told me the incredibly sad story about my Great Great Grandmother and her best friend. Both were killed in the road, after being struck by a vehicle. My Great Grandmother will never forget the photograph in the local newspaper that captured them lying lifeless on the ground, as passengers in a trolley bus stuck their heads out the window to get a better look.

The story begins in 1947, when my Great Grandmother was pregnant with her first child. In a ball of excitement, her mother and her best friend headed downtown to Los Angeles to shop for the family’s newest arrival. They spent the whole day picking out the most adorable clothing and the cutest shoes to match. It was the perfect day to celebrate the new life that was about to come into this world. Unfortunately, their joyous day would soon turn tragic. As they both crossed the road to head to the next department store with all their bags in hand, a drunk driver grew impatient. He raced around a trolley bus that was stopped in front of him and pressed full force on the accelerator of his vehicle. They both lost their lives that day, by a senseless act. One that could have easily been avoided if the drunk driver would have just had some patience or drivers education. They would never be able to hold, see, or meet this brand new bundle of joy that was about to come into the world.

Upon hearing this story, I learned many valuable insights. It has taught me that drivers behind the wheel of a vehicle have both power and responsibility. The decisions a driver makes on the road comes with profound consequences. One wrong choice could be life altering for everyone involved. Now that I am behind the wheel, my mom always tells me to watch out for pedestrians. At first, my moms repeated reminders were frustrating to me. But now I truly understand where she’s coming from. Especially after she shared the real-life newspaper clipping about the accident that took my Great Great Grandmother and her best friend’s life. Being able to hold and read the paper instilled within me grief and made the situation even more real.

As I gain experience behind the wheel, I reflect upon my family’s history. I think about being on the road with distracted drivers, pedestrians jaywalking, scooters and bicycles going the wrong way. Driving means being placed in situations that require fast thinking and consideration for human lives. I now understand my responsibility, as a driver. It’s one of staying alert and being diligent the whole time I have my vehicle in drive. Driver’s Education means teaching drivers that actions truly have consequences. Personally, without my Driver’s Education class, I would have been ill equipped to get behind the wheel. Maybe if the driver that struck my family so many years ago had received more guidance and education on their actions, my family wouldn’t have been affected by this tragedy for generations.

With the increased amount of technology available at our fingertips, we have the power to make smarter decisions. We can plan on taking a ride share, if drivers are ill equipped to get behind a wheel. We can enable the do not disturb mode on our cell phones, while driving. Most vehicles are equipped with bluetooth technology, which will allow drivers to go hands free on their phone, all while keeping both hands on the wheel. There may even be a time when we find ourselves in a car with someone who is driving recklessly, we can use our technology to take us out of a dangerous situation by finding alternative means of getting to our destinations. For instance finding a bus or train route or even a walking path.

However, these are all choices drivers and passengers have to make when they find themselves in these situations. It’s all about making educated and thoughtful decisions. If everyone on the road would be patient and kind, there would be less frustration and deadly consequences. Many urban environments encounter severe rush hour traffic, this is the time for a driver to breath, show patience, and be alert. The only way to teach these safe decisions is by creating a solid foundation through Drivers Education. It’s truly a privilege to operate a vehicle. It’s a right to do so safely!