I sit in the passenger seat of my father’s truck as a young girl while he drives me home from my horse riding lesson. Within seconds of being in the vehicle I sense that something is off. I observe my father deliberately avoiding eye contact, two-handing the steering wheel with white knuckles, and remaining unusually silent. My father was typically an exceptional driver, however that night he nearly clipped several trash bins, continuously swerved over the lines, and was driving erratically. He stayed quiet, focusing hard on driving. Despite my youth, I knew what the issue was. My father had been struggling with alcoholism for almost nine years at this point, and this night was just another one of his episodes— only it put his own daughter at risk this time. I remained silent, but internally I was panicking, with nothing to do but pray we make it home safely.
After twenty minutes of driving in silence, we managed to make it home safely. He didn’t even park the truck in the garage, it was just left crooked in the driveway. He scurried upstairs, making it a point to avoid my mother. Even through his inebriation he still understood the gravity of the mistake he had just made. If my mother knew that her husband had just driven her twelve- year-old daughter home in the dark while drunk, it would be an ugly night. In almost a year from that day, my father would crash this exact truck while driving under the influence, and fall into a coma.
Safe driving became a huge passion of mine after this incident, as I saw the consequences of what can happen when irresponsible actions are taken with my own eyes, to someone I love. Cars are underestimated in their ability to cause damage. So many people are afraid of flying on a plane in fear of it crashing, swimming in the ocean in fear of sharks, or walking across a tall bridge in fear of heights, when in reality, the biggest risk we take on a daily basis is simply getting into a car. Vehicles take more lives than any of our irrational fears. They are weapons in disguise.
If you have had a few drinks, it is much better to just admit that you are incapable of driving and find a replacement, than to ignore the issue and put everyone at risk. Although it may be an awkward conversation, saying “I had a drink and can’t drive. Could you?” is going to be a lot easier to say than, “I killed your son while driving under the influence.”
Driving under the influence is not the only threat to driving safety. Just something as trivial as answering a text could be enough of a distraction to cause a fatal accident. No text is more important than a life. Eliminating distractions while driving will make you more alert, more aware of your surroundings, and less susceptible to preventable accidents. Unfortunately, some accidents cannot be avoided, which is where the reliance on safety features in a car will be crucial. Seatbelts are perhaps the best means of protecting yourself during accidents. According to the CDC, seat belts reduce crash-related injuries and fatalities by almost half. Another issue exists with driver impairment, one that is often overlooked. Driving while extremely tired or drowsy can sometimes be more dangerous than driving after a small amount of alcohol. If you find yourself struggling to stay awake, pull over and take a short nap, or get outside and walk around for a bit to wake up.
Road laws exist for a reason. Speed limits, stop signs, yield signs, cross walks, traffic lights— these all serve a purpose, and paying attention to them is another huge component of safe driving. Being late to your destination is not an excuse to ignore traffic laws, and doing so may just make you even more late. The beratement from your boss about being a few minutes late is going to be a lot less painful than the conversation with a mother who just lost her child because you were late to work.
Educating newcoming drivers about the dangers of simply driving a car, as well as continuing to educate experienced drivers will make them more conscientious about the choices that are made behind the wheel. Cars and other vehicles are used as a regular everyday tool to the point where it is easy to forget how detrimental they can be.
A small trivial mistake could change the entire trajectory of your life. Whether that be injuring yourself, or living with the guilt of injuring or killing someone else— it is a pain that no one should have to live with. Moreover, this guilt can easily be prevented. Find a designated driver when needed, buckle up, pay attention to road signs, put the phone down while you’re driving, and get enough sleep before getting behind the wheel. Taking these simple steps may require some discipline, but they are protecting you from a far worse fate.