In The Driver’s Seat

June 6^th 2016 remains an unforgettable day In my family, it’s become more of a tradition now as every 6^th of June silence and pains empties it’s content on us.

It was still raining that evening when uncle Morgan, my aunt’s newly wedded husband said “I need to go pick up my goods at the station if not the it would be transported to somewhere else, since it was way billed”, wait a bit my aunt said, since it’s still raining, “don’t worry I would be safe out there”, placing a kiss on her. “Call me when you get there” was the last thing she said before the unexpected happened. Her loud scream woke me up, with her lips shaking she struggled and said he’s been involved in an accident. Getting to the hospital where he was, fatally wounded, he smiled and that was all, uncle Morgan was gone. Report showed he had collided with an oncoming trailer while trying to overtake a lorry in front of him. Perhaps going through or taking serious the driving program lessons might have saved him.

Importance of this education cannot be over emphasized, should he had taken this program he would have been lectured : overtaking isn’t appropriate, dangers of driving while raining spelt out, driving under pressure and over speeding would almost certainly lead to destruction. Truly not everyone loves to go through this program as some believe “I have enough knowledge of driving”, and those who go though it do not take enough time to learn, this contributing to Increased accident death rate. Tendering your driving license at the point of car purchase with the inscription no license no car, and also showing your driving ability would significantly reduce this rate. Police at check points inspecting drivers license, drivers mood; if under pressure asked to park and it been sorted out, and also use of seat belt, imposing fine on violators.

September 2018 I had set out to purchase goods from another state, midway through the bus I had boarded had break and clutch problem, the driver has sped past a bump as breaks weren’t functioning to slow down, right ahead of us was another bus, next was a collision. Luckily it wasn’t too fatal, though we sustained injuries, thankfully it wasn’t against a trailer.

Placing a ban on unfit vehicles and arrest of violators would likewise reduce accident rates, compulsory car fitness test quarterly with proof of test would go a long way and most importantly awareness program on importance of driving education, showing everyone their families suffer for their recklessness in driving.

Although I don’t have a car yet, I already started driving lesson September 2019 and still learning, I believe going through this practical would help me become better at driving, also learning from people’s experiences and mistakes and avoid driving under pressure.