A day that changed my life

Janelle Asselin

December 13^th, 2017. It’s a day I will never forget. I had just arrived at the Vancouver airport waiting for a friend to meet me in the baggage area. We had last texted about two hours ago before my flight from Calgary. After landing, I proceeded to the arrivals level. I didn’t see her. I thought maybe she was running late, or in the washroom, so I collected my bags and waited.

5 minutes goes by and I texted her saying “I’m here! Can’t wait to see you.” No reply.

10 minutes goes by, I text her again confirming our meet up location. No answer.

15 minutes goes by and I call her, she doesn’t pick up. 20 minutes goes by and I start texting her saying “where are you, I’m worried, can you call me back!.” Half an hour goes by and I am really panicking. Did she get lost? Did her phone die? Did she think I missed my flight? I mean, we had a meeting time and place, this was very unusual of her to be late.

45 minutes later and I finally got a call I would never forget. It was her, calling me from an ambulance. My heart stopped. My hands got sweaty. All I heard was the word “ambulance.” I thought “is a paramedic calling me from her phone to tell me she’s been killed?” I had never held my breath for so long. Thankfully, it was her who was actually calling. She was crying and emotional, telling me she was going to a hospital after being hit by a car while crossing at a pedestrian intersection. Her life, and my life, changed forever on December 13^th, 2017.

Driving. It is the epiphany of freedom at the young age of 16. It is the feeling of freedom, excitement and adulthood. However, these feelings come with responsibility. Driver education is important in the fundamentals of operating a motor vehicle. Whether you are learning to drive at 16, or 60, a driving course is the right place to start. A major reason that young drivers are over represented in road crashes is because they are inexperienced, lacking the necessary driving skills and capabilities. The importance of driver education is to teach proper driving skills, road etiquette and confidence in all drivers.

When I get in a car, these are the steps I take, along with any passengers to ensure we avoid any accidents, deaths and ultimately arrive to our destination safely.

D – Dedicate. As soon as I get in the car as I driver, I am dedicated to safety until I reach my destination. This includes ensuring all occupants are wearing a seatbelt, no alcohol is in the vehicle, putting my cell phone away, avoiding distractions, and being focused on the road ahead of me.

R – Realize. I realize that I have the safety of myself, my passengers and fellow drivers while on the road. I take this very seriously. By driving safely, I can keep my insurance premium low, avoid fines for traffic violations, and help saves lives by being a smart driver.

I – Independent. Driving gave me my independence at the young at of 16. A young age of to hold a high level of responsibility, however driver education gave me my key to confident driving. I am a good driver today because of the driver education course I took.

V – Velocity. Also known as “speed.” A speed limit sign is posted for a reason. That number represents the maximum speed you can drive in perfect conditions. With any sort of weather or visibility issue, I drive lower than the posted speed limit.

E – Education. We can’t learn something without education. Teens who take a driver’s education course are less likely to be involved in crashes or to receive a traffic violation ticket in their first few years of driving.

So the next time you set into a vehicle as a driver or passenger, remember the term D.R.I.V.E to keep you and others alive.