Responsibly Irresponsible

I was tired, it was July 13th, 2023, and all I could remember was that I was tired. I thought I was so responsible that I was not. How can being so responsible make one unintentionally irresponsible? With no clear memory I found myself on the side of the elevated freeway with nothing to grasp except my own horror and tears. I didn’t know what happened and I was not even sure if I was still alive. All I knew was that I was either in a car accident or died from one. I called out for God in fear after my car came to a stop in a collision with a concrete barrier. The worst part was it wasn’t even my car. If I wasn’t dead, my brother was going to kill me. After taking minutes to process what even happened, my shaky hands grabbed my phone. I called my dad first and received no answer. I then called my sister who immediately started crying when she heard my terrified voice. My parents urged me to call the police, so I was obedient. The dispatcher was trying his best yet became frustrated with my lack of direction and shock. I did not know what to do, I had never been in a car accident let alone caused one. After the police assured me that medical assistance was on their way, I called my internship and let them know I would not be making it to work that morning. I got back on the phone with my dad and all he could ask about was the damage to the car and if it was drivable. I almost lost my life; I was certainly not worried about the condition of the car when my life was almost stripped from me in a matter of seconds. I know it may be absurd reading an essay about how I totaled a car connected to a driver education scholarship, but I know my story can educate others and I will continue to spread awareness.

As reported by both the National Institute of Health and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3.9% of all accidents are reported by drivers who admitted sleep or drowsiness was a contributing factor. While this may be a small percentage, this is thousands of deaths annually. I could go on and explain how I was up at 2 am the previous night jumping the battery or how I barely had any sleep, but it honestly doesn’t matter. If I would have crashed into another car and killed a mother, grandfather, child, or even unborn baby, nobody would want to hear those excuses. I could say “My determination and grit to be an outstanding intern at my company brought me to get behind the wheel and still make it to work,” but I do not think the judge would care, would you? I learned that I need to slow my life down and be more responsible. Driving to work, in my eyes, was responsible as I had a commitment and duty to the corporation. In reality it was ignorant, irresponsible, and careless. My life could have been over. I would have been all over the news because I took an innocent life, and I would never be able to live with that. The thought of that possibility brings me to a level of disgust and disappointment I have never felt residing inside my stomach. Although it is still fresh and certainly a topic I am not excited to share, I want to speak up and share my story. I hesitated with writing this essay because I thought no one would want to hear from someone who crashed a car just a few weeks ago, but I am taking my situation and using it to grow, educate, and encourage others not to get behind the wheel drowsy, not even for work.

Driver education brings awareness to the severity of destructive driving, reduces vehicle related deaths, and creates safer road habits. Destructive driving is an issue that can be avoided as it leads to lives lost, families broken, and emotional and mental trauma. As one of the leading causes of deaths in the United States it is incredibly sad knowing that it can be prevented. Other extremities, deaths, and illness are incurable and inevitable, but destructive driving can be stopped and prevented, and I would like to do my part by sharing my story. Steps I can personally take to be a better driver include making sure I get a full night’s rest and completing removing and silencing all distractions while in operation of a vehicle. I encourage and challenge others to do the same. Other issues such as texting while driving and drunk driving are equally reckless. Another step that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving is if the National Highway Safety Administration required one mandatory driving test refresher to keep everyone safe and reminded of the rules of the road. This course can be required every 10 years and completed or else one’s license will be suspended. It may seem drastic, but it is better to be prepared and aware than be the cause of an accident, take a life, or even lose your own. I would like to see my generation come together and fight these issues by evaluating our own actions first. Mahatma Gandhi lived by “Be the change you wish to see in the world” and I sincerely hope my generation can do the same.