Life is Too Precious

Life is Too Precious

The year is 2013, the year right after the ancient Maya prophecy, the Seattle Seahawks winning the Super Bowl and Obama still occupying the White House. It was coming to the ending of my 5^th grade year and I was expecting to continue my education at the same school for 6^th grade. After school one day in May, my mom entered the house crying. She looked like her whole world had been flipped upside down. My sister and I asked her what was wrong. She said your uncle got hit by a car.

My uncle was driving his motorcycle down the road and halted at a stop sign with his left blinker on. It was a 4 way stop, and it was his turn to go. He begins to take his left turn. Then, a car going 40 mph in a 25 mph and hits his motorcycle. He goes flying and his motorcycle is completely destroyed. He gets immediately rushed to the hospital. He went through hours and days on end of surgery. He came out alive. He did lose his ability to move his legs, his ability to walk, and his ability to stand. He is now forever a paraplegic, severe nerve pain, and has surgeries periodically. The driver who put him in this state was a distracted driver. He blew the stop sign and didn’t stop because he was invested in his phone rather than the road.

This why drivers education is important, he firstly was speeding. He speeding 15 mph over the speed limit, which can be considered as reckless driving and can contribute to how badly damaged my uncle got. Secondly, he blew a stop sign. You should never blow a stop sign, it is high likely to cause a crash and you will get a ticket no matter what if caught. Lastly, he was on his phone while driving. It never okay ever to be on your phone while driving. Whenever I’m in a car with the driver using his phone, I will tell him to get off of it immediately. It is a terrible habit to have. You can also receive an E-DUI for being on your phone.

Steps that can be taken to reduce numbers of deaths and also, improve driver safety. Before you leave your house, text anybody that might reach out to you while driving that you will be driving. While driving, put your phone in your glovebox or in the middle console. Leave the house earlier than normal so if something out of your control gets in your way, you don’t have to speed to compensate. If you are hungry and thirsty, stop somewhere to grab food, then finish your food and began driving again. That way you can have both hands on the wheel. Make sure you get good sleep, so you don’t drive all drowsy or tired, and if still tired, park somewhere to take a nap.

Please before you get behind the wheel, remember whose life is at risk. It’s not just yours, or the person you hit. You could completely devastate a whole family. In 6^th grade, my whole family moved from Washington to California to be right next to our Uncle. Make him feel loved at his lowest point. It’s not a guarantee you will live till the next day, but one this is for certain, if you drive distracted or reckless you are pushing the day you demise closer and closer.