Cars are replaceable but a human life is not.

The feeling of getting behind the wheel for the first time feels exciting as it represents freedom and independence but it also has its responsibilities .When someone gets behind the wheel they have to know, subconsciously, they will drive responsibly and safely to insure the safety of other people on the road .

When I first started driving I was so scared and nervous the only thing I kept telling myself when I was driving was “do not crash”. Practicing driving on roads and having to drive myself to college was difficult but I overcame my fear of being behind the wheel. After gaining confidence I started becoming a reckless driver  and I started to form bad habits on the road .Driving gave that adrenaline rush, especially being able to speed on the highways. It made driving much more attractive to me as well as being able to drive anywhere I wanted to . Until I got into an accident that  made me realize that driving was so much more than speeding and going to my destinations. 

I was driving to Downtown Little Rock after classes to enjoy the view that Little Rock has to offer and I was pretty confident driving myself because I believed it was easy to drive there. While driving there was smooth, it started to get difficult when I saw the traffic . I was behind a white SUV and traffic was getting worse by the minute  with many cars bumper to bumper and the road I was on was packed . I was supposed to press the brake because I was getting to a stop but I slammed on the gas which caused me to hit the car in front of me. The impact was so great I was thrown inside the car almost hitting my face onto the steering wheel  and I was so scared and ashamed of myself. I pulled over and I went to give my licenses and insurance to the driver . The driver  inside was a middle aged woman on the phone with the police and I apologized many times and asked her what I could do and she told me it was okay and took my information . I saw on her bummer closely there was a baby on board sticker and I felt horrible on how my mistake affected two peoples lives .Thankfully the baby was okay and so was the mother but driving off I felt sick and upset at how reckless I was. Telling my parents the mistake I made they were angry at me but thankful I was not hurt or the person I hit with my car but they told me that “cars can always be replaced but not a person's life" . After that accident I started to be more cautious with driving anywhere and every time I was behind the wheel to ensure the safety of other people on the road. Always giving myself space between cars, checking all my blind spots and most importantly knowing my limits on where I can drive. 

Being a safe driver is more than being aware of your surroundings and being confident but knowing your own limits when it comes to driving. Many new drivers think after driving for a while you are able to drive everywhere with ease, especially in places like cities but in reality driving takes practice to be able to handle yourself in places with more cars on the road. Many people behind the wheel can be reckless no matter what age because many people will become less focused on their own driving and that is irresponsible . When being behind the wheel it is always encouraged to check your blind spots , looking both ways when turning into traffic and not being distracted by your phone or anything that can take your eyes off the road even for a second. When people drive safely it is their way of keeping people safe and preventing accidents that can cause injuries or even death. 

A person's life is very precious and people need to realize that the people behind the wheel of other cars  are people with families and friends. Think about the people who are waiting for you at home and the friends who want to see you alive every single day. 

With a car related accident it can alter a person's life if it was intentional or not . A car can always be fixed or replaced but a person’s life can not. To drivers out there  regardless of age and how long you've been on the road it is always important to be thoughtful of your driving and how it affects someone else on the road .