Name: Madylin Victoria Breitling
From: Salem, Oregon
Votes: 0
By:
Madylin V. Breitling
As
a passenger in a vehicle, things are in the driver’s hands. The
attention span of a driver can be high or low depending on the
person, and that can either benefit or ruin both the lives of the
driver and the passengers. Sometimes, however, the fate of both the
passengers and the driver are in the hands of another individual.
That individual can be intoxicated, under the influence of drugs, or
simply not paying attention while driving. Those are what ruin lives.
Driver
Education is what differentiates between a safe driver and a reckless
driver. Those who know the rules of the road and follow them often
find themselves safer than those who either don’t care about the
rules, or simply are under the influence and cannot pay attention.
As
an experienced driver, and someone who has been in many car
accidents, I know the hardships of the road that many take for
granted. My first experience was the worst I’ve had. I was nearly
at the age of seven when my mother and I were involved in the
negligence of a reckless driver, when he ran past a red light and hit
our vehicle straight in the side. My mother has permanent muscle
damage, and I had to be transported to the emergency room for a gash
just above my brow that I have to live with forever because of that
man. However, I was lucky. If I had been sitting one seat over, my
life would’ve been taken from me.
Since
then, my family and I have been in countless car accidents due to the
reckless driving of others. My father has been in a deadly car
accident and walked out unscathed, my mother has been in many car
accidents and walked out in ruins. Sometimes you cannot control what
happens. But, there are ways to help.
Many
car accidents happen due to alcohol or drug abuse. Have a designated
driver that doesn’t engage in the reckless activities, or plan to
stay in and not leave to prevent the cost of lives on your
shoulders– both yours and others. Secondly, make sure to check your
surroundings when driving. The cars and people around you can be
unpredictable, so know who’s around you, and adjust your cushion
around them to bring safety to yourself and them. Lastly, know that
your car is safe. Many car accidents also happen due to the car’s
inability to brake at the right time, or faulty airbags, so
continually get your car checked for safety precautions and get a
reliable car to keep everyone as safe as possible.
There’s
a lot people can do to prevent these things, but the main thing is
education. Know the rules of the road to prevent tragedy from
happening, but also know that sometimes it can happen out of nowhere.
Always be prepared for the worst, and do not take your guard off.
That is all you can do.
