Defensive Driver

I don’t go a day without hearing “make sure you’re a defensive driver Kayja”. You are never only driving for yourself on the road. Your driving for hundreds of other people so act like it. I’ll never forget the night that taught me just how true these words were. It was Christmas break, and I was in 8th grade and my sister was a junior in high school. As we were getting ready to pack up and head for my dad’s. My sister was awfully worried and kept saying she hadn’t heard from her best friend King in about 3 days. This wasn’t normal because they were either always together or always on the phone. 

 Later that night his mom called King had been in a horrible accident. The car flipped over and submerged into a river for 3 days, and he was found by a lady who had to pull over on the side of the road as she was teaching her child how to drive. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone. He suffered from internal bleeding, broken ribs, and head injuries. All of this because he fell asleep. It took him 5 months to get back to doing the bare minimum of what he was doing. 

    One of the most exciting moments for a teenager is getting your permit or getting your first driver’s license. However, It’s not something that should just be given to anyone which is why there’s a test that requires studying and preparation. The studying and preparation ensure that any potential drivers seeking to earn a license provide you with skills, knowledge, and an attitude needed for vehicle safety both as a driver and a pedestrian. 

    1.35 million people die PER year in a road crash and on average 3,700 people lose their lives every day on the roads. Something must change. Before it’s me or you that has lost our life in a car accident. Every Time a person goes and renews their driver’s license, they should also retake the test. This will help to ensure that they understand everything and to make sure nothing has slipped out of their brains over time. 

    Each day I hear “make sure you’re a defensive driver Kayja” in the back of my mind. I am always reminded of what steps I need to take to be a safe driver and that. “You are never only driving for yourself on the road. You’re driving for hundreds of other people, so act like it”. As a driver, I’ll make sure I drive for not only myself but for other people.