Heart-stopping Moments

Heart-stopping
moments. We have all experienced these while on the road. Nearly
avoiding a crash, seeing a fatal accident, wondering if a car will
stop… Although I have experienced many moments like these, there is
one heart-stopping moment that I will never forget. It was the night
of my friend’s birthday, and, had I not been out of town, I would
have been there with them. They drove down the curvy roads of a
mountain and came upon a turn. The driver was distracted, going too
fast, and lost control. The car shot off the road, rolled down one
hundred feet, and landed upside down in the snow. The heart stopping
moment for me was when I received the call that my friends were on
their way to the hospital and realizing I could have been there too.
I am thankful to still have those friends with me today, but if we
continue to drive distracted, don’t value our drivers ed, or
do our part in making the roads a safer place, it could be you, your
family, or your friends that end up in a worse situation than my
friends.

Distracted
driving kills thousands every year. People, music, and outside
influences can all be dangerous distractors, but using one’s phone
while driving is one of the most detrimental. Unfortunately, it is
becoming more frequent on the road. One cannot drive without seeing
someone talking on the phone, texting, or messing with it. Every
second that they do, however, is a second that their attention is not
on the road. Taking the step of putting one’s phone out of reach
would significantly reduce the number of crashes on the road, and it
is a step that everyone should take.

Driver’s
Education is one of the most valuable resources for responsible
driving. Most vehicular related deaths occur from driving
irresponsibly, disregarding the rules, or accidental violations of
driving laws. Drivers ed exists to reduce deaths and
injuries on the road by combating all three of those actions. They
intensively educate drivers on the rules of the road, cultivate
fundamentals of safe, defensive driving, and build awareness of the
physical and emotional consequences of not obeying the rules.
The experience and knowledge gained from the written, visual, and
practical aspects of drivers ed is one of the strongest
tools that we have on the road and should not be taken for granted.

Valuing
drivers ed and putting your phone away are just two of many
ways to make the roads you drive on safer. Another step to take is
staying educated. It is important to review driving laws regularly,
especially since laws update. The next step is to drive purposefully.
Recognize the power you hold as you drive and respect it. Driving
with purpose also includes knowing your route, paying attention to
the rules and signs around you, and being aware of others. Life is
full of amazing moments…do not be the cause of a shattering,
heart-stopping moment for someone else.