It Only Takes One Second

Caia Sullivan

11/21/20

It Only Takes One Second

It’s an overwhelming feeling when you pass your driving test. Finally getting your license, not having to go to Driver’s Ed twice a week anymore, being able to drive on your own, playing your music instead of having to listen to your parent’s music. Driving can be one of the most fun pastimes, especially when you’re with your friends. But it only takes one second of looking away from the road and not paying attention for driving to become deadly.

I’ll be the first to admit, Driver’s Ed was very boring. Sitting for an hour and a half while listening to the teacher talk about the different car parts, the idea of both a midterm and a final exam, and having to be there on a Saturday at nine in the morning, it’s hard to want to pay attention. But my teacher got our attention every Saturday when he started listing some very scary statistics about driving accidents and fatalities, and telling us stories about people he knew. I think one of the scariest things was that he always had at least two new stories to tell us. After hearing some of his stories and statistics, as well as watching a very graphic video on a car accident from years ago, none of us would even consider not paying attention while driving. Driver’s Ed is very important, not just because they teach you the rules of driving, how to prevent serious injuries (wear your seatbelt, make sure your car doesn’t overheat, your airbag will cushion the impact in the front seats), but also because the teacher’s don’t sugarcoat the statistics. They’re not afraid to let students know just how often accidents happen, what can happen if you don’t wear your seatbelt, such as what happened to Princess Diana, and especially what can happen if you drive under the influence. And as scary and graphic as it can be, students need to hear and understand these facts, so they prevent themselves and other people from dying on the road. I think there needs to be units on driving and car accidents in schools, and if someone is caught driving under the influence, their licence should be taken away for at least a month, so there is no risk of someone dying because they drove again while under the influence.

I’ve personally never been in a car accident, but I’ve had friends and family members who have been in accidents. I’ve seen them happen all the time on the Tappan Zee bridge, and there was a terrible accident recently near my house. Accidents can happen at any point, even that one in a million chance where you looked at your phone for a second. Unfortunately, despite always hearing about fatalities on the news, I’ve seen my family, and one of my friends in particular, being irresponsible on the road more than I’d like to. I’ve been in the car with people who were on their phones, driving recklessly in the dark, and one of the scariest experiences while being in the car was around last September, when my friend was driving, and she turned on the wrong side of the road, while cars were driving on that side of the road. We were very lucky, and she was able to turn into a parking lot, but that could’ve ended way differently. I’ve always remembered that night, and it still comes to mind sometimes while I’m driving. I’m never anything but safe on the road; I wear my seatbelt, I always have two hands on the wheel, and I always check for oncoming cars before turning, changing lanes, or even just continuing to drive, because other drivers are often the ones you have to worry about. When my little sister learns how to drive, I hope I can teach her how to be safe on the road, and that she understands the importance of being a responsible driver.