Safe Driving

Elizabeth Gilhousen

Safe driving

30 November 2020

Operating a vehicle in everyday life, it’s easy to get behind the wheel without truly grasping the responsibility one has being on the road. Simple distractions can have detrimental consequences at any moment. Of course, driver’s education works to prevent these catastrophes, but lethal accidents still happen every moment of every day. It’s almost scarry to think that no matter how aware of surroundings one is, it’s still a huge risk simply getting behind the wheel. One must not only trust their own driving skills, but also depend on everyone else to be a safe driver.

About a year ago a close friend of mine was killed in a car accident, so I was thrilled to share my impute on the importance safe driving. This tragedy was totally preventable and knowing that hurts to even think about. The accident was caused by a trucker hauling lumber to a lumber yard. Trucking could be considered the backbone of America and I respect that, but when the driver was distracted by illegally using their phone that does not sit right with me. Of course, the hands-free law was a great step in the right direction, but it’s not enough. If that truck driver was aware of their surrounding and not distracted, my friend would still be here, him and his wife would be happily raising their children together living out the full beautiful life they were meant to have together. Instead, he was decapitated on a highway.

Before I was born my dad was a trucker not out of choice but it’s what he had to do to in order to afford a family. Towards the end of his time as a trucker he was in an accident he doesn’t really like to talk about. He was on the road for weeks at a time until one day he will never forget. Two elder ladies in a small car crossed the median for some unknown reason. They collided head on with my dad and both died instantly when one woman was thrown from her car and the others brain plastered on his windshield. That was the last day of his trucking career, my dad was in no way responsible it still really took a toll on him and still affects him to this day.

Stories like this need to be shared, tragedy’s like this can really wake people up and make one aware of simple everyday decisions. Nobody should have experiences like this, yet they are way too common. Death is so traumatic so if we can share personal stories people should be able to learn from others without losing a loved one like countless have. Almost everyone has experienced a traumatic accident due to preventable causes and that needs to change. Personally, I view driving as a privilege that can be taken away, as it should be. It’s hard to believe that there are people on the road that have made unforgivable mistakes. Drunk driving for example. I can’t even grasp the mentality of drinking and driving. It’s simply unacceptable to consciously get behind the wheel intoxicated. Understanding that concept needs to not only be a priority in driver’s education but there needs to be constant reminders and reinforcement that driving is not a right, but a privilege.