Strap In, Save Lives

Allyson Kamps

11/24/2020

Strap In, Save Lives

Many people fear heights, the dark, or clowns. When asked, few state that they live in fear of driving. Yet, in comparison with other common phobias, driving related incidents cause a disproportionate number of deaths annually. Perhaps the lack of fear stems from familiarity with the concept of vehicular travel. Of course, in an effort to reduce vehicular deaths, driver’s education programs have been implemented and often show great success with new drivers and their safety. Driver’s education promotes the general safety of drivers as well as gives them experience behind the wheel, effectively preparing students for situations of danger on the roads.

On a cold October night, my mother, grandfather, and myself traveled through the night in an effort to attend my cousin’s wedding. As we neared our destination, conditions became unfavorable. Ice patches began to form. I remained unaware of the danger, asleep and unrestrained across the back seat. Suddenly, my grandfather lost control of the vehicle. We rolled end-over-end down an embankment. Finally, the car came to a rest. I awoke confused. I could see nothing, feel nothing. I heard my mother calling for me, and I opened my mouth to respond. My voice seemed unresponsive: I formed no audible words. Rather than my mouth filling with sound, the cavity filled with snow and dirt. Soon, it became hard to breathe, as I tried to lift my arms from my sides. The terror I felt was indescribable when it became clear that I had no strength to lift myself from the dirt, and no voice to call for help. I lay there for only seconds, but it felt like minutes. Panic overtook me and I felt sure I would die as I listened to my mother’s cries, desperately wishing to respond. Finally, she reached me, raised me to a sitting position.

The next minutes blur as I try to recall them. I know we waited for an ambulance, and my grandfather moved around outside the vehicle, gathering luggage and other belongings strewn about. As we waited, I began to understand what had happened: the car had rolled, and I had been tossed about inside. When we came to a rest, I had wedged myself between the wall and the driver’s seat with my head out the window, nearly ejected.

Upon our arrival at the hospital, I learned that I had suffered fractures of my C3 and C4 cervical spine, a concussion, and road rash across my forehead. The pain I felt cannot be described, but compared to the fear I experienced, was nothing. I had no feeling in either leg, and underwent physical therapy in order to walk.

Two years after the accident, I take time to reflect upon the night’s events. Recalling how I felt in the moments directly after my injury, my chest constricts and tears threaten to spill over my cheeks. Not only was I severely hurt due to the lack of a seatbelt, my grandfather was ticketed because I had chosen not to restrain myself.

While simplistic, the greatest solution to vehicular deaths remains the implementation of restraints. Since that day in October 2018, every time I’m in a vehicle, the first step I take has been to click the belt in place. Additionally, every occupant in my car must also secure theirs before I shift from park, causing me to drive more safely, as well as help protect others.

Driver’s education had hammered into my mind the importance of seatbelts, and usually I did well when it came to wearing mine. Yet on that one night, I sacrificed safety for comfort, and the choice nearly proved fatal. Luckily, many students enrolled in education programs listen to the repetitive drilling of the importance of restraint. I believe this has saved a good many lives. Without driver’s education, I fear that many more young drivers might find themselves in positions such as mine. The experience and insight offered by programs is crucial, and has and will continue to save hundreds if not thousands of lives.

Much can go wrong behind the wheel. In comparison, clowns, heights, and the dark hold no candle to driving. The best way to prevent fatalities is to educate young drivers of the dangers, and to teach them to protect themselves. I truly wish that I had. As my instructor once told me, “you never know when you may need your seatbelt. Best to always have it ready and in position.” Simply put: strap in, save lives.