I
thought that when my brother got his driver's license he was the
coolest person in the world. He had a silver Toyota corolla that he
saved and saved to buy. He loved that car. Then, on Christmas eve in
2017, he totaled it. With me in the passenger seat. It cracked my
sternum, broke two ribs and jammed all my fingers. They pulled me out
of the shattered windshield after slicing off my seatbelt. The
seatbelt that saved my life. I later spent 2 days in the hospital,
one of those days was Christmas. But lets back up, what caused
this accident to occur, and what could have prevented it?
On
the police report, the cause of the accident is listed as failure to
stop. And that's exactly what it was. It had snowed the morning of
the accident but in true Idaho fashion, it all melted. The skies were
clear and blue and the road was wet with a wicked glare coming off of
it. It being Christmas eve, there was an unusually long traffic jam.
According to my brother, he just didn't see the other car and he
wasn't expecting to have to stop. And he didn't. He stacked that
silver corolla into a red highlander going 55 mph. That car had 2
babies in it, but thankfully neither of them was hurt. If you ask my
brother what he could have done to prevent that accident he always
says turn down the music and wear sunglasses to decrease the glare.
He was taught these skills in his drivers education course.
When
I was in drivers ed, I told this story to my instructor and he
says that my brother is right. He should have turned down the music
and worn some sunglasses. He knew what he had to do. That's why
comprehensive drivers ed for new drivers is so important, so
that not only do they have the skills to recognize what they need to
do to prevent accidents but to be able to have those resources
available. Like keeping sunglasses in the car and always keeping your
phone away from you.
I
got lucky in that accident. So many other people don’t. Drivers
education can help teach our new drivers the tools they need to be
safe drivers, so that they can have the freedom that comes with
having a car and a license, without the guilt of taking a life. As my
mom always says, Buckle up Buttercup.
thought that when my brother got his driver's license he was the
coolest person in the world. He had a silver Toyota corolla that he
saved and saved to buy. He loved that car. Then, on Christmas eve in
2017, he totaled it. With me in the passenger seat. It cracked my
sternum, broke two ribs and jammed all my fingers. They pulled me out
of the shattered windshield after slicing off my seatbelt. The
seatbelt that saved my life. I later spent 2 days in the hospital,
one of those days was Christmas. But lets back up, what caused
this accident to occur, and what could have prevented it?
On
the police report, the cause of the accident is listed as failure to
stop. And that's exactly what it was. It had snowed the morning of
the accident but in true Idaho fashion, it all melted. The skies were
clear and blue and the road was wet with a wicked glare coming off of
it. It being Christmas eve, there was an unusually long traffic jam.
According to my brother, he just didn't see the other car and he
wasn't expecting to have to stop. And he didn't. He stacked that
silver corolla into a red highlander going 55 mph. That car had 2
babies in it, but thankfully neither of them was hurt. If you ask my
brother what he could have done to prevent that accident he always
says turn down the music and wear sunglasses to decrease the glare.
He was taught these skills in his drivers education course.
When
I was in drivers ed, I told this story to my instructor and he
says that my brother is right. He should have turned down the music
and worn some sunglasses. He knew what he had to do. That's why
comprehensive drivers ed for new drivers is so important, so
that not only do they have the skills to recognize what they need to
do to prevent accidents but to be able to have those resources
available. Like keeping sunglasses in the car and always keeping your
phone away from you.
I
got lucky in that accident. So many other people don’t. Drivers
education can help teach our new drivers the tools they need to be
safe drivers, so that they can have the freedom that comes with
having a car and a license, without the guilt of taking a life. As my
mom always says, Buckle up Buttercup.
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