Name: Haley Lofland
From: Fallston, MD
Votes: 0
People
often times worry about the dangers of flying in airplane and the
chances it will crash or fear swimming in the ocean due to sharks and
other creatures in the waters, but people drive cars every day with
no concern. Car accidents are a common cause of injury or even
fatality, but they are also often times avoidable. I have been in a
few car accidents, all with minimal injuries, but most are not as
lucky as me. A friend, close to my family, was driving down a back
road with his friends when he got distracted and didn’t slow down
enough for an approaching turn in the road. He crashed into the
woods killing one person and leaving the other with extremely severe
brain damage. He has to live with the guilt every day of his life
knowing he killed one of his friends and ruined the other’s life.
Not only was he affected, but so were the families of his friends and
all the people who knew those three people. Instances like this
happen every day to people all over, and it can often times be
avoided by putting your phone down, paying attention, and making
smart decisions while driving. This is just one of the instances I
have been close to that I watched destroy families. I never want to
have to hold the hand of a parent devastated over the death of their
child because of reckless driving or decisions made while driving
again. The text will still be on your phone when you get to your
destination. Your friends will not think you’re cooler because you
speed. If you’ve had a drink, you can sleep at your friend’s
place or call an Uber or a sober friend. Waiting to answer that
text, driving the speed limit, and calling for a ride may feel like
an annoyance, but it only takes one time for you to avoid the
annoyance and hurt or kill yourself, a friend, a loved one, and even
a complete stranger. No text, fast drive, or drunk drive is worth a
human life.
