“In The Driver’s Seat”

“In The Driver’s Seat”

Every year in the United States, nearly 38,000 people are killed in motor vehicle accidents. In 2015 alone, 2.8 million people were hospitalized due to vehicle accident injuries. When driving, I know that my actions influence my safety and the safety of others. The summer before my sixteenth birthday I attended a Driver’s Education Course. I was fortunate to have two amazing instructors who had experiences of their own to pull from to assist in educating me on the importance of road safety. I completed my course; confident in the knowledge I had learned much about road safety and what I could do to prevent accidents. I apply this knowledge daily because I know how dangerous driving can be.

At my junior orientation, our school resource officer gave us a keychain with our parking permits. The key chain is a little key that says “43 Key Seconds To Distraction Free”. He was promoting how important it is that we take the time to make sure we are driving safely. With the key chain was a piece of paper that said:

Take 43 Seconds To Complete The Safe Driving Checklist:

Clear Head

Clear Hands

Clear Eyes

Click It

Now, turn your key.

This key meant something to me and changed my perspective on how important it is to drive safely. Something as mundane as clicking my seat belt, an act I complete any time I get in a vehicle, took on new meaning. Everytime I crank my vehicle, I look at my key and remind myself that it only takes 43 seconds to keep myself and others safe. I believe that if everyone could take 43 seconds and complete these steps, it would help reduce the number of vehicle accident related deaths.

At the age of nine, my mother lost her uncle to drunk driving in a one vehicle accident. It is believed he passed out, ran off the road, and hit a cement vat that caused his truck to flip; breaking every bone in his body. This affected my mother’s perspective on driving and how dangerous it can be, so she is always stressing to me how important it is not to drive under the influence or dangerously.

While driving, I am always aware of my surroundings. I remember my 43 key seconds before I crank my vehicle, and I do the small things like checking my mirrors, driving with a clear head, and putting my phone away. Phones are a considerable distraction. In 2018 they led to car accidents that killed 2,841 people. Waiting until the car is in park to answer a text message will save your life and the lives of others on the road.

When I am driving, I keep my school resource officer in mind. In the line of duty, he has responded to many car accidents and seen the loss of life numerous times. I know he wants me and my classmates to stay safe. I think of my mother, who has already lost someone important to her to a car accident, and I know she wants me to drive responsibly. Finally, I think of others that are also driving on the roads who have families and lives that they need to come home to. Driving is a privilege, and I believe that if we all follow the rules and do not take it for granted, we will all be safer. We can be the change.