Name: Tess Heston
From: Livonia, Michigan
Votes: 0
It
was a dark and icy morning driving to school. My friend was riding
shotgun and my sister was in the backseat. We were quietly talking
about our homework above the soft noise of the radio and I began to
break as the red light approached. But my car didn’t slow down. My
heart stopped when I realized what was happening. The car wasn’t
stopping, my friend was screaming at me to hit the breaks, but
nothing was changing. In a last wish of hope, I reach for the
emergency break, but it’s too late. We hit the stopped car in front
of us.
That
morning forever changed how I see driving and act on the road.
Standing on the side of the road with everyone okay and the police on
the phone, I stared at the highway that was lit up like a Christmas
tree. There was so many emergency vehicles down there and I thanked
everything I could think of that our cars didn’t break the rail.
Later,
in the safety of my school, I thought of every possible action I
could have changed to prevent such a crash. I was already going 10
mph under the speed limit after the warning of my father. Did I need
to go slower to prevent hitting the black ice? The obvious answer is
yes. Car accidents are the number one killer of teenagers and
educating them on the importance of safe driving is a must.
Far
too many accidents happen because drivers are distracted. One student
got hit in my high school parking lot caused by the rowdy celebration
of Spring Break. Texting has long been attacked for being a
distraction as well it should be, but it isn’t the only
distraction. Having too many passengers are definitely a distraction
as teenagers can be a handful when in a group. Also, high schoolers
often drive to and from school sleep deprived causing drivers to fall
asleep at the wheel. I have heard many stories of classmates pulling
off into a parking lot to take a nap before driving because it would
be too dangerous to continue. So educating drivers on the importance
of leaving the driver alone when driving or getting enough sleep
would both be big steps to prevent future accidents.
One
in five drivers get in an accident in their first year of driving.
Being one of those high schoolers and knowing many others, I always
fear that one winter morning, one of my classmates won’t make it.
The morning I got in my accident, three other students also wrecked
their cars and so many more had frighteningly close calls. I have to
believe that everyone became better drivers afterwards because
nothing seems to be a better wake up call than getting close to
something terrible. Every accident can be prevented, it just takes
awareness and control.
