Name: JaCoria JaTrece Brown
From: Meridian, Mississippi
Votes: 0
Precious
Cargo
Anyone, anywhere can
die @ anytime. Yes it’s a hard concept to think about but, car
accidents happen everyday. Statistics show that one of the leading
causes of death among teenagers, ages 15-19 is accidents. Just in
the month of June 2019, an MDOT employee, was struck by a car, and
badly injured. He left home with no intention of visiting a place
that houses the sick, but only to work and provide for his family.
Who knows! It could’ve easily been avoided by just slowing the car
down, or paying a little more attention while driving on the
dangerous highway. Being a safe driver doesn’t just affect the
driver, but the families and friends of everyone on that highway.
Surveys show that
Drivers ed helps produce safer drivers. Teen drivers that
take the class have more knowledge about the rules and regulations
and safe driving practices, compared to the ones that have never
taken the classes. Because, there is a difference in knowing the
responsibilities of how to drive, than just knowing how to drive.
There are many steps
that can be taken to help reduce the number of deaths related to
driving. First, informing the public about decision making when you
step into a car, you should always know that you’re not just driving
for yourself, but for everyone that surrounds you. Secondly, being
mindful of talking and texting while driving. It’s hard to do, but we
have to learn that it’s important to wait to respond to calls, and
texts, until you get to your destination. Buckling up, slowing the
vehicle down, using hand free apps, harsher penalties, not drinking
and driving, turning down the music, and paying more attention to
every aspect of handling this equipment to make us a safer society.
While driving back
and forth to school everyday I have seen some crazy and
irresponsible driving. While passing an SUV, I saw a lady plaiting
her hair with both hands, holding the steering wheel with her finger
tips and talking on the phone with her head tilted to the side while
holding her phone with the head tilt. I’ve seen eating, reading a
paper, and talking on the phone with the pet dog in their lap while
driving at the same time. I have seen people driving a big
semi-tractor trailer while looking down at a phone and texting. I
can go on and on but the main thing is to stop, people, and think
about others than yourself. All lives are affected by how we operate
these machines. We have the choice to pick SAFETY. If we choose bad
we’ll always have a bad outcome. That outcome could be death. But,
if we educate over and over again about safety on our highways, it
will become a natural reaction in our daily lives.
On June 30th, 2018,
my life changed. I experienced death like never before. My closest
friend (Hailey), and her boyfriend were in a head on collision, while
trying to pass a car going up a hill. They met another car coming
down that same lane. She and her unborn baby were pronounced dead at
the hospital. Her boyfriend came out of the accident with serious
injuries, and bad memories that will never be forgotten. So my heart
is still heavy, but beginning to heal. I will always be mindful of
how I’m to drive to stay alive, and keep others around me safe.
In conclusion, a car
is a tool needed for everyday life. Making the choice to be smarter,
and a safer driver every time you get into a car should be possible
to achieve a positive effect on safety. This should also eliminate
many car crashes and save more lives. Safety first, will help keep
thousands alive.
