DISTRACTED DRIVING

DISTRACTED
DRIVING

How
my best friend’s life would change forever

We’ve
all been exposed to the safe-driving mantras that pepper our society.
Whether it be road signs, promotional videos, or straight from a
textbook; it should be clear what to avoid while in the driver’s
seat. Texting, phone calls, and a multitude of other distractions are
a common example of things people know just not to do. Unfortunately,
not everyone abides by these rules. When I was a teenager I know I
made some risky decisions while operating a vehicle, just because I
felt like “I had it under control” or “I’m only taking my
eyes off the road for a few seconds”. It wasn’t until my best
friend was almost killed by a hit and run driver that I started to
really see the severity of the distracted driver issue.

It
is one thing to hear and understand how these rules help save lives,
it’s another to witness the consequences of irresponsibility
first-hand. My best friend stepped outside one warm afternoon for a
brief jog, only to have her life altered forever. The driver, who was
looking at their phone, drove fully off of the road onto the sidewalk
and ran her over. She was in a coma for 6 months and had to relearn
how to do the simplest things, including walking. Her only complaint
through her entire experience was that she didn’t understand why
the driver would put himself and others in harm’s way, for the sake
of instant gratification. While I was by her side through her healing
process it made me reflect on all of the ways I had been a distracted
driver. I felt grateful that nothing had gone wrong in the past, and
that I could go forward being a conscientious and selfless driver. My
best friend is one of the few people that survive tragic mistakes
made by people who put their own wants and needs before others. There
are countless stories of those who were not so lucky.

When
you get behind the wheel of a vehicle, you are assuming the
responsibility of keeping yourself and others that may be around you
safe. To younger people, driving seems like their first step in
freedom. The best thing you could do is be present, and give yourself
the opportunity to be as safe as you can while on the road. Not just
for your own safety, but for other’s lives that could be impacted
by your poor decisions. I know following rules isn’t the most
thrilling and gratifying thing, but it’s the right thing to do. I
haven’t driven distracted even one day since my friend’s
accident.