my reasons for safe driving

Driving is something that most of us do on a daily basis without even giving it a second thought. We climb into the car, turn on some music, and drive to work, school, or just to wherever. But sometimes it only takes one second for everything to turn around. I found out the hard way when I got into an accident on the highway, an accident that could have easily cost me my life. It was a rainy afternoon and I was driving home from work. The highway was wet and the sky was grey, and it felt as though there was more tension in the air than usual. I had driven in the rain many times before, and I wasn’t too worried. But in hindsight, I probably shouldn’t have. I found out the hard way that the roads were more dangerous than I thought, and I blindly assumed that my car would be able to handle it. As I was trying to change lanes to overtake a truck that was moving very slowly, my tires slipped. My car started to skid and before I even had time to do anything about it, I was spinning. My heart fell into my chest and everything outside the windshield turned into a blur. I was utterly powerless; I was just waiting for the car to stop. But it didn’t. Instead, I spun across three lanes of traffic and right into the other side of the highway. I don’t recall a lot of what happened in those few seconds, but I do remember the noise. The squealing of tyres, the blaring of horns, and the unmistakable thud of metal as another car slammed into mine, and then, silence. When I opened my eyes I was facing the wrong direction, my airbags had deployed and my hands were shaking so much that I could hardly move. I was alive, but I had no idea what had happened. Reality of what had transpired with me hit me all at once. I could have hit another car head on at full speed if I had spun out just a few seconds earlier or later. If someone was in the lane next to me when I lost control then they could have crashed too. The what-ifs began to pile up and the more I thought about it the more I realized how much I had gotten lucky. That crash is the reason I have changed the way I drive. Before, I thought I was a good driver; I had been driving for a long time. But experience doesn’t make you invincible. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been driving, there are still times when something can go wrong in a second. This is why, for one to be safe on the road, it is not only necessary to obey the traffic rules but also to expect the unexpected. The first and the biggest mistake that I made that day was to not pay attention to the conditions of the road. Rain can be as deadly as ice and often times it is at the beginning of the rain. The water combines with the oil on the road to make it very slippery. I should have slow down, keep a tighter grip on the steering wheel, and not change lanes suddenly. Now, when it rains I am especially careful because I know what can happen if I am not. I also learned the importance of taking care of one’s car. When I told my parents about my accident, I discovered that my tires were worn than I thought. This lack of tread made it even easier for me to lose control. Ever since then, I have checked my tires, my brakes and other parts of my car that are most important to make sure that they are in the best condition as they can be. It is a simple thing that could save a person’s life. Above all, I understood that driving is not something that can be taken for granted. We use it so much that we often forget how dangerous it can be. A wrong decision, a moment of distraction or a wrong calculation can lead to an accident. I was lucky that day, but not everyone gets a second chance. That’s why I always tell my friends and family to be careful on the road. No text, no phone call, no rush is ever worth risking someones life. This is because safe driving is not only for the benefit of the individual driver but also for other users of the road. If my crash has taught me anything it is that you never know when something can go wrong. So, the next time you get into a car, please remember to slow down, pay attention to the road and do not speed. Because at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is to make it home alive.