5 Friends Lost, What Could Have Saved Them

One of the biggest obstacles everyone encounters at some point throughout their life is the death of a friend or family member. However, finding a silver lining in something so tragic is how you learn from the experience. In the last few years I’ve lost 5 friends due to car accidents on the highway. Prior to my freshman year, my close friend Olivia who was only 15 at the time, died in a car crash along with another girl Annie who was driving. Annie was an inexperienced driver who only had a learners permit at the time, which resulted in a high speed crash. Annie wasn’t fully and properly educated on the rules of driving which ultimately cost the girls their lives. If she had waited to start driving and had completed driving school I truly believe Annie would have had more knowledge and realized how driving is serious. Her death made many kids begin to realize that we’re not invincible. This opened many people’s eyes, including mine, that anything can happen in a split second when driving.

In January 2018, Ty, Moses, and Kerion were being driven home from Long Island early one morning when the driver Chris fell asleep at the wheel. Chris was the only survivor who now has to live with the fact that he killed his three best friends. Ty’s death had a profound affect on my life. Both Ty and Olivia made me recognize that we all have to look after ourselves and others. I’ve truly learned how important it is when driving to never be under the influence, especially if I’m driving other people. Their lives are in my hands which is the biggest responsibility. I now always make sure my friends have safe rides home and never let someone drive under the influence. I’ve noticed over recent years that Uber has been a reliable source for people who are drinking because they have a safe ride afterwards which prevents many car accidents and deaths. I’ve also informed my friends to call me if they don’t have a safe ride. I don’t mind picking them up if it means it could prevent another friend’s funeral that I’d have to attend.

I’ve seen the effects it has on friends and families when someone dies unexpectedly from car accidents. Ever since Olivia, and Ty’s deaths I personally have noticed how friends have changed their opinions on drinking and driving. This I believe is because children are always taught how dangerous driving can be, but they never truly understand the risks or impact of an accident unless they’re experienced it themselves.

Driving school educators need to give students real statistics and real examples in order for them to fully understand how important safe driving can be. Before my friends’ deaths, I wasn’t always strict with friends wearing their seatbelts when they’re in the back seat of my car but after these funerals I’ve never taken my car out of park until everyone has their seatbelt on. If Ty had been wearing his seatbelt, he would still be alive today so I always take that precaution with anyone in my car. The smallest task of clicking their seatbelt could save their life so I’ll forever enforce that rule when someone is in my car.