Name: Carissa Lisowski
From: Mondovi, WI
Votes: 0
The
Importance of Driving Sober
When
I was about two years old, my uncle Johnny, who was about twenty
three at the time, was involved in a horrific crash. I do not recall
this event, but my parents explain being awoken by a call at two in
the morning. After they heard the news from my Grandma Diane, they
rushed to the scene where they were met with a totaled car and
terrible news. Luckily, my uncle had survived, but with an extensive
brain injury. While going through three years of difficult therapy,
where he learned to walk and eat again; the driver, a good friend of
his, was sent to jail. One of their close friends and a passenger in
the other car had passed away at the scene. The driver was sent to
jail for five years after being charged with involuntary manslaughter
with the use of a motor vehicle. When these three friends went out
that night, they only planned on having a good time, never imagining
it would completely change their lives forever.
The
driver had been attempting to race a random car, which is why he
crossed over the centerline just before a big hill. Another car was
going the opposite way, which caused the two vehicles to crash head
on. The man driving the other car was simply driving to get where he
needed to be, possibly home or to a friend’s house. He did not know
he would meet a group of drunken young adults, driving recklessly.
This situation goes to show that drivers ed is important so
that drivers can learn and respect the rules to ensure their safety
and the safety of the people around them. Learning to accept the
rules of the road would hopefully cause less crashes and therefore
fewer deaths from the result of reckless driving. My uncle still has
problems due to his brain injury, such as having a harder time
remembering things and speaking longer sentences. A car crash can
change everything, and sometimes you can never get certain things
back.
The
steps I take now to ensure my safety on the road are simple, but mean
a lot. If anyone who has been drinking asks me to give them a ride
home, so that they do not drive themselves, I always accept. Driving
under the influence caused my uncle and his friend’s lives to be
ruined forever. If I can help even one person avoid this fate, then I
think it makes a world of a difference. Encouraging this behavior in
adults, to never drive while drunk, could drastically reduce the
amount of crashes. I also remind myself to always keep my focus on
the road, and never on my phone. Being distracted while driving is
also a large problem. A lot can happen in the five seconds it takes
for a driver to glance at their phone. Driving responsibly would also
ensure other driver’s safety on the road. When I do my own part to
stay safe, I help others to stay safe also.
