Make sure to wear your seatbelt! That 6 word sentence is something you hear everywear, and for good reason. You may find it annoying but if someone tells you that, they care for you. Each time you are putting yourself in a vehicle you are putting yourself and others at risk. You must take responsibility for yourself, your passengers, and others on the road. The minuscule steps all play a part into your responsibilities. Check your mirrors, make sure everyone is seat belted, and know what to do in the case of an emergency. While you may not be able to handle other drivers you can affect what you do around them. Drivers must use visuals to ensure safety. If they are to notice a radical driver they must get out of the way and pull over to report it. As a younger driver I try to beat the status quo expected of me. I make sure to be on high alert while my music is on low volume. I check my vehicle prior to driving to ensure I will not cause harm to other vehicles from loose materials, blown tires, or hazardous liquids. Death is scary to imagine, especially knowing that it could be avoidable. When driving you must be in control of the situation.
As the younger sister of a girl who was 6 years older than me I constantly strived to be as cool as the “big girls”. I would try to do every activity I could with them even if I was the annoying little sister who got kicked out within minutes. Over time I began to get to know my sister’s friends’. Many of these friends were on a dance team with my big sister. One night after a basketball game performance my whole family was driving through our small town on the way home. I remember following this one friend in particular because our homes were on the same route. We came up to a 4-way stop. The driver, who was my sister's friend, made a full stop, and continued on. While she expected the other driver coming to stop, he didn’t. In an instant everything had changed. The girl who was always kind to me was suddenly unconscious in an unrecognizable car. The mangled metal wash pushed inward leaving a dent from the car. This girl was my idol, but at that moment I wanted to be anything but her. My parents rushed to her car while they told me to call 911. I barely knew how to work a phone but I knew I needed to learn and fast. My head was spinning from what happened. The world became hazy as blue and red flashing lights entered the scene. Tears streamed down my face as I didn’t know what was going to happen. As my family piled back into the car there was an eerie silence. We all saw the tragedy happen in front of us but couldn’t do anything. If only she would have waited for him to blow through, or if someone would have seen him earlier and reported him. The oncoming days were full of high nerves as we waited to see if she would be ok. The sense of relief lied on me when we finally heard she would make it. As for the driver, he was also ok, although he would be obtaining a DUI. My idol would never be the same, after experiencing such a horrific accident at a young age.
When I became the same age as that girl, that scene would flash in my head constantly. I didn’t want to be the next girl riding out of the scene on a gurney. I knew I had to be cautious of not only my driving, but others around me as well. While I would never wish this experience on anyone it gave me a superior sense of reality and responsibility. While it is a sad story, it is important to share. Remind your family and friends, put down the phone. If you’ve had something to drink, call an Uber. Follow the signs posted on the road. Nothing is more important than you returning home safely. I took my driving education seriously because I wanted to prevent this from happening to the people I love. I want to be the change needed on the roads. You have to be in control of the vehicle beneath you. When hanging out with my friends I always ask to be the driver. Not because I don’t trust them, but because I feel as though I have had different experiences that help me put a better foot forward. I get worried if my friends speed or take a new route that they are not used to. I worry for them like I worried for the girl. I always say I would rather come get them late at night than see them in the hospital the next morning. It takes a special moment in someone's life to change them, seeing my idol like that was mine. I hope people learn from this story and can share the important message. Drinking and driving is not cool, especially when you cause harm to others. Be safe and call an Uber. Be the change we need on the roads. Take control of your defensive driving.