Sixty Seconds Gone

Within sixty seconds you can wake up, turn off your alarm, unplug your phone, get out of bed and remake it, and take your vitamins. It only takes one minute to trim your nails, wash your hands, or brush your teeth. By the end of these everyday tasks, there could be a car accident. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that car accidents occur every 60 seconds; this totals to roughly 5.25 million accidents per year. By the time these accidents are over, about 1.35 million of these people will never reopen their eyes. Perhaps this may seem statistical and unrelated to your daily life–maybe you could ignore all of this. At least until an accident happens to someone around you. Maybe within the end of the next sixty seconds, your phone will ring. It is a call from your friend, the one you can always rant to and makes you laugh even when you want to cry. When you answer, you hear their trembling voice as they croak “I-I just g-got into an accident.”

The situation may sound abstract, but trust me when I say it is not. Within the last year there have been multiple close calls and deaths of people I know. Yesterday, I was almost hit by a bus as I backed out of a parking spot in my town’s post office. Last year, my sister’s close friends passed away in an accident due to the reckless driving of another. These amazing teens’ lives were cut short and they were friends of people throughout school and when the news arrived, many did not come to school the next day. A car had run a stop sign, had it not then these passings would have been avoided. By this event, awareness of the importance of practicing how to drive and driving education became evident.

If the driver, in the car that had hit them, had been more aware of driving rules and the dangers of being behind the wheel then they might have been more cautious. Situations like this, sometimes even worse, can be the result of multiple factors like irresponsible driving habits or the lack of knowledge about the rules of the road. As such, we need to emphasize the importance of being careful when driving outside of the initial drivers education class. We could have a fews days each year that are dedicated to focusing on the risks of a car, because cars are ultimately a weapon that can travel over 100 miles per hour. Moreover, we need to highlight how everyday habits, like checking to see who texted you, can lead to accidents. Through this, we can make this abstract idea more personal and easier to grasp as an event that can seriously affect each individual.

So, as an individual myself, I consistently take my time to leave. Every time I enter my car I double-check that my seat and mirrors are in the correct position on top of making sure my seatbelt is fastened. Also, I routinely pick the music I wish to listen to before my car begins to move. Moreover, I always ensure that I plan ahead; this means that I take the time to understand the route in addition to estimating the time that it will take to drive there. After, I add about five to ten minutes based on the time of day, the flow of traffic, and the weather. Preparation is one of my top priorities when it comes to hanging out with a friend since planning enables us to have more fun without the stress of being late or having sudden surprises. In turn, whoever is driving is less inclined to drive irresponsibly or recklessly. These actions not only secure our safety but also the well-being of others.

Oftentimes, checking how long the drive is, agreeing on the time to arrive, and checking the weather takes less than sixty seconds and a minute to preview the route there. By taking the time to plan, you can avoid the trembling voice of your friend. This time you take can prevent you from being the cause of someone croaking the words “I-I just g-got into an accident.” to their friend. Because of this simplicity, bringing the dangers of driving is a major priority that should be emphasized at least a handful of days per year.