Stop and Save Lives

Adelaide Rosene

Stop and Save Lives

A glance at my rearview mirror last June changed my perspective on driver safety forever. As I drove home from a camping trip, I witnessed a dump truck rush past a stop sign and directly collide with a compact car traveling just yards behind my vehicle.

As I processed what I had just seen, I was in total shock and aware of the urgent need for help, so I pulled into the first driveway I saw. Luckily, the homeowner was standing outside, and after I explained the emergency, she immediately dialed 911.

I returned to the intersection and truly realized the severity of the accident. The small car was completely destroyed. I watched first responders struggle to rescue passengers, including a young boy still stuck inside the vehicle, and later they would even announce one person was beyond help. There was a potent odor of gasoline and other chemicals. When I finally got back on the road after giving a statement to the police, I began to reflect on what I had seen.

The truck driver will forever be at fault for the accident all because he was in too much of a hurry to stop. His recklessness took the life of another person and injured others. Although heavily unsettling, I have learned the importance of following rules on the road to protect myself and others.

My actions in the driver’s seat have changed today. Before I witnessed an accident, I used to glance at my phone occasionally to switch the song or send a text. Now I keep my cell phone off, and steer clear of distractions behind the wheel. I always wear my seatbelt, and most importantly, I always stop at stop signs.

Almost 700,000 motor vehicle crashes take place every year at stop signs. This means failing to stop at a stop sign is one of the largest contributors to more than 34,000 driving deaths each year. Too often do we allow ourselves to fall into lazy unsafe driving habits. Driver’s need to understand a bad habit can turn too quickly into a bad accident.

Driver’s education is essential in teaching these habits. In the classroom and behind-the-wheel training, I learned the basics of driving a vehicle. Because of my driver’s education course, I knew how to respond to the accident. I got help right away and remained at the scene.

Aside from the knowledge we gain from the driver’s education course, deaths can be prevented on the road by committing ourselves to safety and responsibility. Only the best habits can prevent situations like the one I witnessed. Every time I sit in the driver’s seat I remember that afternoon and how a deadly accident could have easily been prevented if a driver had followed the rules of the road.