Name: Ruhail Bajwa
From: London, Greater London
Votes: 0
The last time I
heard her, her soft reassuring voice calming me down, telling me
everything is going to be okay, our car completely destroyed ,
crushed glass everywhere, a painful ringing sound filling my ears.
One moment she was my mum, the next she was gone. Why? A reckless
driver had crashed into us at such speed the car had flipped onto its
side. He had killed my mum. He robbed me; I was only 10 years old.
Don’t let that thief be you!
Drivers ed
is a fundamental component to reduce the amount of deaths caused by
driving. As the primary reason for deaths in the USA, educating
drivers is not only for the newly passed drivers out there but also
for those whom have been driving for decades. Distracted drivers
cause death. Period! Is adjusting the music a distraction? checking
the kids at the back are okay? taking a call on a handheld device?
Some would say no; others would defy against these. The mere fact is
would you want your car to be hit by someone doing any of the above?
Educating drivers to understand the implications of what may appear
seamless, non-distracting and habitual activities can help reduce
lives lost to wheels.
Many things can
be done to prevent deaths by driving. Using the rear mirror to check
the kids at the back instead of turning one’s head would reduce the
likelihood of a death occurring, both by the driver or another
driving crashing into them. Having a sensor which detects motion with
inactivity on cell phones, which automatically send calls to
voicemail and silences all alerts would significantly reduce the
distraction of devices. Having visible stickers on the music player
that discourages drivers from adjusting their music whilst driving
may also reduce deaths related to driving. In addition, speed limits
appear to have an impact on drivers but not as much as we would like.
Average speed cameras appear to be a greater deterrent for drivers
speeding, therefore the use of such across the country will most
definitely save a life from being robbed by driving.
I myself can
reduce the loudness of my music before setting off to avoid the
danger of not hearing something. I can also educate the children not
to disturb me whilst I am driving unless it is an emergency so they
too can understand the impact of distractions whilst driving and the
consequences of these. I can also invest in a sensor for my car to
notify me if a car is too close or if there is a cyclist approaching.
Through my actions and educating others, others too will recognise
their driving mistakes which they may have otherwise discounted.
Perhaps the best way I can explain the gravity of the consequences
that distracted driving can have is through my own story, my deepest
sadness of being robbed of my mother at only 10 years old to the
hands of a reckless distracted driver.
