Two
weeks after getting my license, I got into a car crash. It was Bad
with a capital b, the car was totaled and it was a miracle I came out
practically unharmed. I was traumatized and refused to drive again
for another 6 or so months. Just being in cars was stressful, I had a
hard time going places with my friends, felt like I had to be an
active driver even in the passenger seat. When I did start driving
again, it was because I got a job. A job that I deliberately chose
because it was an 8-minute drive down the street from my house.



Even
now, I still struggle to drive. I use the GPS to go everywhere, even
if I have been there multiple times because it helps to know when
turns are coming up. I haven’t been able
to close my eyes for more than a couple seconds, I have to constantly
watch out the window, I can’t be on my
phone— all as the passenger. When I drive myself, I usually tense
so much that I am sore the day after, I clutch the wheel so hard my
knuckles turn white.




I
was so lucky to have survived, I know not everyone has the same
luxury, but with this life that I have gotten to keep, I know I have
to make sure others don’t make the same
mistakes I did. Drivers ed, good drivers ed, is the first
step. I tell all of my friends who are younger than me, “Pay
attention, follow directions. Sometimes the things the most trivial
are the ones that are going to save your life.” The
more educated people are, the less likely they are to get into an
accident that could have been prevented. Some things are crucial,
like wearing your seatbelt, and some things are good to know in case
of an emergency, like what to do if your breaks lock. Honestly, I
believe we should have a mandatory refresher course two or three
years after you get your license because it’s
crucial to hear the information as many times as you can.




To
reduce the number of deaths, I believe we should all practice
defensive driving, as well as follow the tips I give many of the
people I know. I remind my friends to put down their phone (more
often than I should have to), choose the radio or the playlist before
they pull out of the driveway, always check your blind spot. Don’t
text and drive, don’t snap chat and
drive, don’t eat and drive! I am 100%
sure that if everyone committed to erasing distractions while
driving, we would significantly reduce the number of deadly crashes
in the United States.