Have you ever been affected by a car crash? Have you felt that fear of seeing a car approaching you and not being able to stop it? Well to me those feelings are true and I have felt that heartbreaking fear of hurtling towards a car at 30 miles per hour with no way to stop quick enough. I was only twelve years old and had just finished playing a volleyball game when I was headed to get a post game meal with my stepfather. We were going through a green light when all of a sudden a car ran their redlight and sped into the intersection. Without a second to think we crashed into the car and my life flashed before my eyes. I could feel the seatbelt dig into my shoulder and waist as my body flung towards the front of the car. One moment I was happy and ready to eat dinner after a long day and the next I was sitting in a car with its front end caved in and pieces of metal all over the intersection. I was frozen in space and didn’t realize for several moments that tears were rolling down my face and I was screaming. My stepfather was shaking me and was quickly asking if I was okay. I barely shook my head yes and continued to cry in shock. I watched my stepfather exit the vehicle and check on the car who we had just crashed into at 30 miles per hour. The two young men in that vehicle were okay and apologized over and over. Not long after I could see the flashing red and blue lights as police cars approached. The police came to check on us and assess the damages done to both cars. The police then led me out of the vehicle and towards the side of the road where my mom awaited us. As I walked shakily towards the side of the road I looked over the broken pieces of the vehicles laying across the intersection. I still was barely able to really know what had just happened and I violently shook with the tears still streaming. For weeks after that moment I was scared anytime I entered a vehicle. I couldn’t stop imagining myself being rushed into the side of another car. I as a young twelve year old girl was altered all because someone wasn’t paying attention to the road and was too busy talking to his passenger in his vehicle. Due to his negligence my stepfather lost his vehicle and I was full of trauma for weeks.

The day I was allowed to drive I remembered this accident and made sure I would not cause someone to have to think like this. No person should ever have to feel this or go through this fear. My experience is minor to others as so many people lose their lives or are severely debilitated for life. Each time I enter a vehicle I try to limit distractions as much as possible. I get my radio ready and on before I leave, try not to eat, and I put my phone away and do not use it while I drive. These simple steps have allowed me to be so much more focused while driving. If others were to do the same we could easily negate huge risk factors that lead to car crashes. By promoting less distracted driving and teaching all drivers these skills we can lower car crash casualties.

I look back and remember all the hours I spent in drivers education and I look at it fondly. Yes some days I didn't want to wake up early to go or I just wanted to enjoy my summer. However this education was fundamental in me learning to safely navigate the roads. Driver's education is extremely important and every person should have to take it. Taking these classes allows you to be knowledgeable on the road and prevents you from ever being in the position of causing a crash. A vehicle weighs over 4,000 pounds on average and no one should be in control of one without having the correct set of tools and knowledge. Being able to drive is a gift, it is not a given and anyone unwilling to become educated to drive one should not have the right at all. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for young adults and by educating ourselves along with our peers we can stop this. We can be the change the world needs and arm ourselves with knowledge of the road to be good defensive drivers.