Just One Moment

A life can be forever changed in one moment. One moment that a young driver checked a text message. One moment that the music was up too loud, and a young driver didn’t hear the ambulance coming through the intersection. There are so many moments that occur while driving that can lead to tragedy, but many of these are avoidable.

Far too often, teenagers feel invincible. But effective teachers and exposure to situations that force young drivers to understand consequences are vital to reducing the number of driving related deaths. Teenagers need a strong base of what rules exist. Without a solid understanding of the basic rules of the road, young drivers tend to fall back on their own understanding of what the rules are, even if these are inaccurate. Driver education courses set the groundwork for effective and safe drivers.

Several steps can be taken to reduce the number of driving related deaths. Beyond teachers laying out the rules of the road, young drivers need to be exposed to the consequences of unsafe choices that are made while driving. Many of these can be shared during classes via photos, simulations, or messages from young drivers that have made life altering mistakes while driving. Panels of family members that have lost loved ones in driving accidents would also be an effective way to demonstrate the consequences of unsafe driving. Lastly, first responders could share experiences with classes in regards to the tragedy they’ve seen, or rehabilitation professionals could share how a young life can be affected by traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord injuries when one doesn’t die in an accident but suffers substantial injury.

I have never been in a car accident. However, several of my classmates have been in serious accidents. The accidents ranged from driving too fast on the interstate and not being able to stop when another driver had to suddenly hit their brakes, to excessive speeding on a country road and losing control. Neither resulted in death. Both resulted in cars being totaled. One resulted in two young lives forever changed by traumatic brain injury.

There are far too many things in life that we don’t have control of that ultimately result in death, including illnesses, traumatic events, and medical emergencies. However, taking responsibility as a safe driver is one step we can control to reduce the number of driving related deaths. I know I can limit distractions while driving, follow speed limits, and ensure I don’t text and drive. I can also make sure that my friends and family are safe by calling out irresponsible driving. As hard as that is, the alternative of losing them entirely is so much worse.

Reducing the number of driving related deaths is a collaborative effort. Education programs must portray the rules of the road and demonstrate consequences that occur when those rules are broken. But young drivers must make a conscious decision to hold their lives, and the lives of others, in the highest regard.