My Journey to Safe Driving

Drivers ed Initiative Award – Annual Scholarship Opportunity

My freshman year of high school I was hit by a car with a distracted driver. I rode my bike every day to school because I lived about a mile away. I was going to ask my mom to take me to school because it was pretty cold for Florida, but I decided to suck it up. On my ride to school I would go through one light. Every day I checked to see if the light was red on the side of the cars coming out; and I was conscientious of the cars leaving the community.

This is why it is of the utmost importance to me that drivers are educated and know to stay alert and focused while behind the wheel. The tests students and teenagers take before their driving test are made to be thorough to prevent these senseless deaths on the road caused by a lack of awareness or roadside education. For example, routinely checking your car for any problems or understanding warning signs is also a large part of owning a car and being responsible for driving.

That morning I was completely blindsided by a SUV that turned right on a red light, straight into my side. I made sure to check if the light is red, and as I checked without stopping, the next thing I knew I was on top of her hood. I closed my eyes. I remember the feeling of my face skidding across the road and stinging; until I felt the pain of my knee. From the middle of Atlantic Avenue, I moved enough out of the lane to get out of the road. Adrenaline coursed through my system to complete this advance. I recall crying, “Is this a dream?” and immediately collapsing to the cement. I looked down and I saw my mangled leg with my knee completely out of the socket. Movement led to excruciating pain and I was frozen in agony as bystanders dialed 9-1-1. I used my hand to try to break my fall and so that added to my injuries. The ambulances arrived with a stretcher and this was one of the most painful parts as any movement led to searing pain up my leg — which I also received every few minutes as my muscles attempted to pull my kneecap back into place. The paramedics ripped my sweatpants open on that side and exposed my mutilated leg which caused even more pain as the events became real to me.

At the hospital the doctor tried to put my kneecap back in place but was unsuccessful so he placed me under anaesthesia. I could not wait to get home and decompress. I laid with gauze on my face to minimize scarring. I had been through the first biggest problem, the initial accident, as MRI images showed my kneecap had fragmented and the ligaments were torn. I was scheduled for surgery a month later and left in a knee brace unable to walk for that month. I prepared for surgery at five a.m.. After the surgery, my leg remained numb until three a.m. the following morning when I started feeling the worst pain of my life. I felt fire shooting up my leg as the numbing started to wear out. The following months were the toughest I faced. I struggled to do simple tasks including showering and getting to the bathroom. I had physical therapy for the next year because my leg atrophied, and most movements became overpowering.

I still continue to work on my fitness four years after my accident in order to build muscle, as my quadriceps are still uneven. I am grateful for my life and what we take for granted like being able to walk. Driving drowsy, drunk, or texting are huge factors in accidents. It is of paramount importance that we avoid the promotion of such acts. We should look both ways before crossing a street if you are driving or a pedestrian. I do not want to become just another percentage.

This event significantly impacted my life and made me realize how important it is to drive alert to keep everyone safe. The accident occurred over 4 years ago but the lessons have stayed with me. I think to myself, “Maybe if the person who hit me did not look at their phone or was not preoccupied rushing to work I would not have needed to go through the experience?”. However, I cannot change the past I can only change how others think of driving safely and now that I can drive, how I can without any distractions. Some easy fixes that I catch myself doing frequently are putting my phone face down when I get into my car so I am not answering any texts or changing my music. If I need my directions, I have a device that attaches to my air conditioning vent where I can clearly see my phone and this limits distractions and keeps my eyes on the road. If I need to change anything on my phone, I come to a complete stop or pull over. The largest problem I face when I am driving around the streets is turning down my music so I am aware of my surroundings in case anything happens. These may all feel like a hassle but I know they can likely save someone else’s life or even my own.