Driver Education Initiative – Don’t Kill Another Dream

Rebeca
Yanira Romero Pena

DMV
Education

Safer
Driver Essay

01
January 2020

Don’t
Kill Another Dream

Being
a safe driver is of the most utmost importance. A vehicle is a
dangerous machine that can literally end someone’s life in a blink of
an eye. Why is it so hard for people to care about other people’s
safety? Their life? Drivers ed is what’s to be learned to make
sure you make the roads a safer place. There are thousands of people
that don’t about traffic laws and drive as they please but one
mistake can cost their life or someone else’s. As a driver, you’re
supposed to respect and take traffic laws seriously. It’s not a game
or something you can treat as not important. There are already many
drivers that drive recklessly so why make that number go up? In WW1
there were more than 50,000 deaths and in 2005 there were almost that
many deaths caused by highway fatalities. That is extremely alarming
and sad! How is it that so many can disregard the responsibility of
conducting a vehicle?

In
order to help the driving community its important to understand that
you can harm yourself or someone else if you’re not careful on the
road. Don’t be reckless and obey the law. It’s not hard to follow
the speed limit, it’s not hard to say no to drinking alcohol and then
driving, it’s not hard to let your phone ring or wait until you’ve
parked to check it. Just say no. Study the manual correctly and
diligently to understand how to properly drive. Whenever on the road,
make sure you have your seatbelt on and everyone in your car, make
sure to check over your shoulder, your rearview mirror, and side
mirrors. Be aware of your surroundings and don’t risk anything just
because you want to get somewhere faster. If this issue hits you
harder than others, spread the awareness of how fatal car accidents
are. Spread the word of safe driving and volunteer at organizations
if you want. I have been in probably five car accidents in my whole
life and the last car accident I was in the middle of the night with
two of my sisters. A huge truck behind hit the back bumper at a
stoplight which made the car jolt forward and made my back quite
stiff. It bothered me for about two days after but what made me most
upset was that the man was drunk and his girlfriend was completely
sober in the passenger seat. In that situation, I feel like his
girlfriend was more at fault. If someone if ever drunk, you know that
they can’t function properly because alcohol makes you lose your
senses. Your mind is hazy, your vision is blurry and you can’t even
remember half of the things that happened.

He
hit us and eventually drove off before the police could come. Another
incident that completely changed my life was an incident that
happened five years ago. I lost my brother to a car/motorcycle
accident. He wasn’t at fault but because of a woman’s negligence, I
don’t have my brother with me today. I was only 11 at the time and
now I’m 17 years old. It hurts and sucks to not have him here for
every important event, every milestone that I’ll reach, my
quinceanera and my sister’s wedding that’s coming up this November.
He should be here for everything but because someone didn’t take
the traffic laws seriously, didn’t care about anyone else’s
safety, and was oblivious, he can’t. My brother was my ultimate
role model and I miss more each and every day but it makes me feel
even more passionate about safe driving. I wouldn’t want what
happened to my brother to happen to anyone else. I don’t want
anyone to feel the pain my family and friends felt. It’s hard every
new year, fourth of July, easter, thanksgiving, and Christmas. My
family and the people I know drive well. We hate it when people drive
recklessly and do as they please on the road. They make sure they’re
aware of their surroundings and always have their seatbelts on. My
mother was in a car accident with my two eldest siblings before I was
born and they were hit by a reckless driver that hit them so hard
that they smashed head on to the traffic light pole that holds the
streets name. My brother’s head smashed against the window, and my
mother’s chest and ribcage were crushed by the impact of the car with
the pole. She knocked out as well as my brother. My sister was in the
car as well, but she was fully awake and being only six years old and
seeing your mother and brother drenched in blood is very traumatic.

Thank
god that nothing happened to my second eldest sister who was in my
mother’s womb at the time. They had to pry open the crushed door on
my mother’s side as well as my brother’s side and rushed them to the
hospital. My mother had emergency surgery and brother too. They both
were left in a coma. A few months later, the doctor said that the
baby had only flipped in my mother’s tummy and that she was okay. My
family has been in several accidents due to people’s recklessness. I
have only been in a few but it makes me appreciate life and be
grateful that I’m still here. Life is a gift that shouldn’t be
taken for granted. Spreading awareness is powerful, social media is
powerful. Making children in elementary, middle and high school
understand that this is a big issue can be helpful. Reminding others
to drive safely and to obey the law. I feel if there are more
policemen present to keep those
drivers in check, they’ll have no choice but to obey the law. I
don’t drive yet but I plan on being a safe driver who doesn’t get
any tickets, obeys the speed limit, always has her seatbelt on, takes
care of those in her vehicle, and always looks over her shoulder.
Studying the manual is very important and being careful of those
around me. It’s honestly very simple. I just have to do it. It’s not
rocket science but a matter of life or death. Just drive safe.