He almost ran the red, cause he was looking over at me- Distracted driving we know it all too well.

My friend and I were comparing our red tongues from having just eaten a popsicle as we rode in the backseat of my mom’s car on the way to pick up my dad from work one summer evening. Suddenly there was a loud noise. I feel a sensation of the car spinning out of control. In a split second my mind was racing; I didn’t see anything. Yet I was overcome with a terrifying feeling as the car spun and not knowing what, why or how it was happening. Just as suddenly the car comes to an abrupt stop. My mom is asking if we are okay, a man appears at her window. There is utter commotion. Somehow, I’m sitting on the curb by the freeway overpass and people I don’t know are asking me if I’m okay. It became so noisy and bright with the sirens and lights from the emergency and police vehicles I wanted to cover my ears and close my eyes. The paramedic is trying to confirm my friend and I do not have injuries, why are our tongues red? My mom explains that we had just eaten popsicles. I’m feeling a bit freaked out, but my mom seems pretty calm and is reassuring us that everything is fine, so that make me feel better. I guess she’s an expert at this accident thing. Although my first vehicle accident, this is my mom’s third accident in three years.

We were starting to think she had some pretty bad luck because each accident was almost exactly the same, someone ran a red light, either intoxicated or on their phone, demolishing her car every time. The driver was both on his phone and heavily intoxicated and had been in two other accidents earlier the same day. Physically, we were very lucky that no one had major injuries. Unfortunately, due to the multiple accidents, my mom still suffers from back pain and spine misalignment. Mentally and emotionally was a different case, I was tense and nervous to be riding in the car for several months after the accident. My mom was nervous as well, often hesitant to enter an intersection, tapping her brakes. One occasion when she was behind a car that almost got hit by a red-light runner, she was so distraught that she pulled over, and had my dad come get us. This experience, while very hard for a child not even ten years old, was important when I started my driving journey. It made me recognize that safe driving is more than what I do as a driver it is constantly checking and anticipating what other drivers may do.

As a society we spend so much time in our vehicles often rushing from one place to the next, rarely giving thought to how an accident, even a minor one, might affect us mentally or physically. Driving for many becomes a routine task that people almost give little thought. I’m sure the average American has no idea about the number of vehicular accidents and fatalities each year. Considering the average person is involved in three to four accidents in their lifetime, your number could be up at any time. There needs to be greater awareness initiatives regarding car accidents and fatalities and the after affects beyond potentially physical harm to include awareness of the mental and emotional damage it has on a person. Everyone thinks it will not be them or they will get over it. But trust me if you have ever heard the gnashing of crunching metal and been a part of the accident it does not leave your memory easily. There is much focus on some of the obvious causes of accidents like “don’t text and drive” and “don’t drive under the influence” however, safe driving extends beyond those actions. Safe driving is also defensive driving being prepared to act when another driver may be negligent.

Driving initiatives and state licensing agencies need to adapt with the times. While television and radio advertisements have their place with certain demographics there needs to be targeted social media outreaches such as YouTube, TikTok, etc. Different messages that make people feel an emotion, so it drives the point home. My license is good for five years until I am twenty-one, then all I must do is get a new picture and then it is good for another forty or so years and I never have to test again or anything. The primary regulator of safe driving are the insu rance companies because they charge people more depending on their driving habits or accidents but there is now awareness with this approach. With today’s technology, state licensing authorities could require licensed drivers to complete periodic refreshers and awareness checks. This could easily be accomplished with little or no cost so that it is not a burden or huge expense to the state or drivers.

Car accidents are scary. They can be life changing, traumatizing, and deadly. While I understand the importance of practicing safe driving all the time, I also try to encourage those close to me to do the same. When in the car with others driving, if they need to make a call or send a text, I always ask them to let me do it for them. Everyone plays an important role helping to make driving safer and the first step is holding yourself and those close to you accountable.