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Flashback on a Life Changing Experience

Name: Cecilia Morales
From: Rogers , AR
Votes: 0

Okay,
is everyone buckled?” I am about to put the car in reverse and then
I remember.

Ceci,
I am really scared. Mommy is on the phone with daddy and he is
screaming.” At the time I didn’t understand what my 5-year-old
sister was trying to tell me. I remember that I rushed into the
kitchen to find my mom on the phone with my dad; he was in a car
accident. His car was flipped to the side and with no ambulance in
sight my mom was trying to talk to him and calm him down. I remember
how my eyes watered and my thoughts swirled as I heard my dad grunt
in pain and scream that “it hurts!” I remember as I rushed my
younger siblings upstairs and distracted them with coloring sheets as
I tried to prepare myself for the worst. I remember that day like it
was yesterday.

CECI!
Can we leave already? We are going to be late for the party!” I
shake my head and snap out of that flashback. I look in the rearview
mirror to see my 5-year-old little sister sitting in her car seat and
assure her that we would make it on time.

Despite
a few minor injuries, my dad made it out okay, but that experience
forever changed the way I drive. My dad had been going too fast and
was not focusing on the road when he veered off the interstate.
According to The AAA NewsRoom “Americans spend an average of 17,600
minutes driving a year.” It’s crazy to think that we spend so
much time on the road and we still don’t know how to do it safely.
The ASIRT shows that 3,287 people worldwide will die today; in a car
crash.

It
is obvious that it is important that drivers are educated on how to
keep themselves and their loved ones safe while traveling or
operating a vehicle. One key step that has to be taken in order to
ensure safety is taking responsibility. We must be cognizant of the
fact that we are now responsible for the safety of ourselves and
others while at the wheel. The next step would be to get rid of
anything that would distract you from your task at hand. This
includes texting, eating, changing the music, even breaking up the
kids fighting in the back seat. For me personally I never allow my
car to move until everyone is buckled. I have whoever is in the
passenger seat next to me operate the radio, turn my phone off while
driving, and always save my eating for at home or in a restaurant;
even when I am rushing my little sister to her party!

I
think you will be glad to hear that my little sister did make it to
her party on time, but most importantly she made it there without a
scratch on her; thanks to education on how to drive safely!