For Mady

For Mady

In third grade, I transferred to St. Joseph’s Elementary School. I met Mady Niles, and we were both the tallest kids in class. That was all it was. We bonded over our differences from others. I don’t remember how we became so close, but she was one of my best friends from then on. We went through our ups and downs, but we were always there for each other. When we were in sixth grade, my mom and I got into a car accident. While we were driving, a car turned without signaling his blinker. Thankfully, no one was severely injured. That taught me that a car accident could involve anyone at any time in your life. Then, once we had graduated from Middle School, we parted ways by going to different high schools. I couldn’t wait to get my own license and car so that I could see her. I was sixteen, had my license and a car. However, she was killed in a fatal car crash the following April. She was sixteen at the time and wasn’t even the one driving.

Everyone under the age of eighteen has to go through driver’s education before receiving or even attempting to get their license. Even though this is true, adolescent car accidents are the highest before the age of twenty. If students genuinely engage and understand that we are not invincible from accidents. Driver education, over the years, has significantly reduced accidents per year. Suppose it is continued to be implemented towards not only the teenage community but also to everyone striving to get a license in general. In that case, I believe those statistics will decrease even more. When I was in driver’s education, it gave me more confidence behind the wheel. I was made more aware of my surroundings, and I used the information I learned in class while driving with my temporary permit on the road.

With Mady, she was t-boned by a truck on a country road. After, her friend failed to stop at a stop sign. It was nighttime, and there wasn’t a lot of light where the accident took place. I feel as though, in addition to drivers being aware of their surroundings, in darker areas, stop signs should be lit up with lights in more part, and more streetlights should be in place. There is always a way that these kinds of accidents can be avoided. It’s something that everyone should collectively work on as a whole and not wait for the next generation to fix. Everyone is on the road. Therefore, everyone depends on the safety of others’ driving knowledge. Often, when I am on the road, it feels as though I have to think for both parties. To be a better and safer driver and help others become safer on the road, everyone has to consider others and not drive selfishly. When we drive, we have to remember that we are not the only ones in the driver seat.