What my Accident Taught me

His car gained momentum and was rapidly approaching mine. Panic set in as I noticed that the front of his vehicle was almost parallel to the back of mine. He showed no signs of slowing, and that is when I knew he was going to hit me. I braced myself and felt the impact of his van crashing into my car. My vision of my surroundings was blurred as I spun out until I eventually landed in the median of the highway. I was practicing the procedures followed by a responsible driver; I checked if I had enough space to merge, put on my blinker, and after concluding that it was safe, proceeded to do so. But that was not enough to prevent me from being hit by an irresponsible and reckless Amazon driver. I am fortunate that my accident did not leave me in critical condition, but I know many are not as lucky, such as one of my mom’s high school friends. She was drunkenly approaching a dangerous turn in our town located under a small bridge. In her altered state, she crashed into the stone wall supporting the bridge and died. She never got to grow up and truly experience life because of an accident that could have easily been avoided. Her tragic story serves as an example of why it is crucial to drive responsibly.

Road rage seemed to be at the root of my accident, but there are endless possibilities as to how an accident may be caused. For that reason, drivers ed must go deeper in-depth while educating future drivers on the rules of driving, preparing them for accidents, and teaching them strategies to handle emotions they may experience on the road. One lesson that stuck with me from my drivers ed class was when we were exposed to several examples of life-changing and fatal accidents. That lesson made me a safer driver. They served as reminders of how suddenly a life can be changed or taken because of a mistake made while driving. Real-life examples like that should be introduced in every drivers ed class because prospective drivers need to comprehend the risks and consequences of irresponsible driving. A greater understanding of the possible repercussions may motivate people to be more cautious while driving.

Despite knowledge gained from drivers ed, the number of deaths related to driving can only be reduced by those who are physically on the road. Drivers could have a required course to take at least once a year that would refresh them of the rules and remind them of the possible consequences. After my accident, I am far more careful while driving. I am more aware of my surroundings, make sure to follow the right procedures, and double-check before doing anything to ensure the safety of myself and others. If people take steps to improve their driving and have an overall increased knowledge of the importance of being safe, the roads could be more reliable for everyone.