An Unforgettable Crash

My head was spinning, still reeling from the collision. Who knew 10 seconds could change so much? One second, I was sitting in my booster seat watching the cars drive by and the next second, I was jerked back by a sudden force that pushed the air out of my lungs. A feeling of utter helplessness and panic overcame me, making it hard for me to think. It was the worst feeling in the world that I will never forget. That day, a car t-boned us, totaling our new car and nearly killing my mother and I, who were seated at the side of impact. This experience left a huge mark on me and completely changed the way I thought.

After my rocky history with car accidents, I vowed to myself that I would become a good driver. The first step in attaining my goal was taking a driving course. Many people forego this because they believe it is unnecessary, but in reality, it can be the difference between life and death. In fact, drivers who haven’t taken a driving course are “75% more likely to get traffic tickets and 24% more likely to be involved in a fatal or injury accident” (Reed,2015). Personally, I found drivers ed to be extremely helpful in learning different signs and rules. Without this basic understanding, mistakes are much more likely. Considering the evidence, driving education should be mandatory courses offered in all high schools. This change will be very impactful in improving driver safety of youth.

In a country where car accidents kill more people than combat, it is imperative that we find a solution to this deadly problem. To find the solution, it is essential that we examine the causes. The root cause of most car accidents is distracted driving. Driving requires one’s full focus and if that focus slips, even slightly, it can be catastrophic. One common occurrence that I have seen with friends is driving with a phone. They believe they can multitask without causing any harm. This notion is misguided, and I have experienced first-hand how the car shifts when the driver takes their eyes off the road. Propaganda and law enforcement have, so far, been ineffective in changing this driving behavior. Although texting and driving is illegal, it’s nearly impossible for police to catch offenders. Moreover, the propaganda has also been unsuccessful due to sparse advertising and incorrigible audience. The solution to this widespread problem is changing phones themselves. Phone companies can make updates that comes with “driving mode” that restricts drivers on the road. That means blocking driver access of the phone and muting notifications when it detects car movement. This is an effective means of changing driver attitude and actions.    

Overall, my experience in car accidents has taught me the importance of being a cautious and educated driver. With new technology distracting us, we have to be vigilant. We must take steps to solving distracted driving. We should also educate new drivers to be safe. 

References

Reed , L. (2015, August 13). Study: Drivers ed significantly reduces teen crashes, tickets. Retrieved November 25, 2019, from http://newsroom.unl.edu/releases/2015/08/13/Study:Drivers ed significantly reduces teen crashes, tickets.