Name: Mary Noelle Murphy
From: Greenville, Tx
Votes: 0
Driving is so normalized in our society that it has become a necessity in this day and age. We drive to get to work, school, to hang out with friends, or even just to drive. Some people love the rumbling feeling of wheels on the road. Sometimes people get too comfortable in their abilities to drive, and that’s when life-threatening mistakes are made that can potentially change the course of someone’s life, whether it’s yours or the people around you.
There are several factors that can lead to unnecessary deaths, most of which are human errors. Drugs, alcohol, fatigue, and texting are all mistakes that occur due to these errors. Being under the influence of drugs or alcohol while driving is one of the most serious offenses under road laws. They impair your senses and make you a danger to the other cars around you.
My friend’s sister is a great example of why it is so important to make sure you’re sober before driving. She used to smoke a lot of marijuana, so much so that she was constantly high, and it was normal for her to drive while inebriated. One day, while performing her daily routine, she got on the interstate, only this time her negligence cost someone their life. That day haunts her; she has said that she feels like the word “Murderer” is tattooed on her forehead.
What happened to my friend’s sister left a lasting impact on me. I could be doing everything right, checking my mirrors, using my turn signals, driving the speed limit, and someone under the influence of drugs or alcohol could still crash into me, causing me to get seriously injured or worse.
Intoxication isn’t the only thing that can dull someone’s senses; fatigue is another danger while on the road. It’s easy to let the everyday, mundane tasks that need to be completed drag your day into the late night. Adults have never-ending responsibilities; they wake up early to go to work, and then come home to take care of their children. It’s easy to see why they need their morning cup of coffee. Another age group that I’ve seen that are always tired are high school students. Most high schoolers are involved in several things, like Beta, NHS, Yearbook, FFA, One Act Play, Student Council, HOSA, and after-school sports practice. Most students who are proactive in their school and community also take dual credit classes. Several people in my school are going to graduate with their associate’s degrees, meaning they are taking several hours’ worth of college classes. This means that they are constantly stressed and tired, with little time for themselves or to sleep.
While I’m not in sports and the athletic department is thankful for that, I do have a job on top of taking dual credit to graduate with my associate’s degree and my CNA certification. The amount of hours I put into my school and my job can often make me stay up until odd hours of the night. There have been several times when I’ve begun to drift off behind the wheel. One of these times was when I was merging onto the highway, and I was so focused on just staying awake that I forgot to check my blind spot. I was beginning to merge into the lane when an 18-wheeler rushed past me, taking my driver’s side mirror along with it. My Dad, who had been driving behind me, saw the whole situation unfold. He said that if I had been even an inch more into the truck’s lane, I would’ve been crushed. After learning how close I was to death, I learned that sleep is more important than school and that finishing assignments can always wait until the next day.
Another major human error that is responsible for many accidents in the United States is texting and driving. Making sure that you’re eyes are always on the road is one of the most crucial aspects of driving. The conditions on the road can change at any second. Someone can swerve into your lane, pull out in front of you, etc. Keeping 100 percent focus on driving decreases your chance of getting into a car wreck by letting you anticipate what other people are going to do, or prevent any errors that you might make on the road. It can save a life.
Someone I know, Jayla, was texting and driving while on a hill. This man, who always goes out into the road to get a better angle when mowing, happened to be in the road at the same time as she was driving. They collided. The old man was decapitated and died from his injuries, while Jayla was severely injured and had to be rushed to the hospital. She had severe spinal injuries that she still struggles with today, even after recovery. Her story shook me, and now I make sure to stay off my phone while driving.
Driving is a necessity in the United States. In fact, it’s normalized to get a driver’s license at the age of 16. Cars are an amazing tool to have access to, but if not used carefully, they can cost us our lives. Drugs, alcohol, fatigue, and texting are all major causes of car accidents. All of these factors can leave families broken and disoriented while trying to deal with the aftermath of this trauma. We can learn through our personal experiences and the stories of others, and make sure to be as safe as possible by not driving under the influence, getting a good night’s sleep, and keeping our focus on the road. We can save lives.
