A few years ago my life as well as my perspective on driving changed forever. Around a few summers ago in 2022 my mom picked me up when I was leaving a friend's house. I was so excited to have made a new friend that day I had nothing else on my mind other than how happy I was when all of a sudden a car started swerving in our direction while on our way home. Due to the car going roughly 65 in a 35 mile per hour road, the car ran into a wall and ran up it due to the immense amount of speed. My mom safely dodged the car but safety wise the car did not have the same luck we did. It flipped upside down and started smoking, we pulled over and immediately called 911 crying in panic and shock due to what just happened. I thought that this was the worst of it and that the man driving this car would be okay after he got medical attention and help from the police but I was wrong. We stepped out of our car when the police arrived and began to talk with the man while they were trying to flip the car straight. Before we talked to him, I remember being mad and feeling so many emotions towards him for going the speed he was and we learned that his car was going so fast because he was distracted on his phone. He began to tell us that he was homeless and that all he had was his now totaled car. He now has nowhere to go now. For me, this was surreal. Seeing someone's life change and how scary this was for him. We all prayed and ordered him an uber to a friend's house and left. Ive never seen this side of distracted driving before. This changed my life due to the emotional scarcity that I was left with as well as my view on driving as a whole. For a year after this experience I avoided getting my license or even my drivers permit because of how dangerous I felt it to be. This was until I realized that I am in control of my driving and I can be a safe driver for myself and my passengers. Not only did this experience leave me with emotional baggage but the other person involved as well with the emotional as well as financial burdens. This essay will discuss what happens as a result of distracted driving and the results of death due to this as well as my personal experiences with distracted driving and how to stay safe on the roads as well as ways to avoid this.
What happened to me could have very easily resulted in death. In fact, based on the statistics according to the National Highway Traffic Association, 94% of car accidents are due to human error and 40,000 motor vehicle crashes are due to driver error in the United States annually. What easily could have happened to me involving distracted driving, has happened to 94% of people involved in car accidents. Steps to help others avoid crashes that aren't talked about enough is to stay courteous on the road. This includes: yielding to others as well as defensive driving. The right of way is always given. Stay courteous out there, it could save your life. The second step is to watch your distance. This includes no tailgating. It is easy for a distracted driver as well as any driver to have to brake hard, tailgating is an easy way to result in a severe accident. Not doing it can prevent a life changing scenario that you don't want to be in.
I do have personal experience with distracted drivers and it has immensely affected me and my perception of driving as a whole. Sometimes you just need a ride home, on a few occasions I have gotten in the car with a friend of a friend, people I don't know, due to me wanting to get home and not having enough money for an uber. They are almost always untrusting, distracted drivers using their phones and doing multiple things at once. They have almost always gotten in one crash in their past. What you can tell a friend on how to stay safe/ how to stay safe on the road considering this is: do not rely on other drivers, stay alert at all times, “you can't get home unless you're safe” as well as “better late than never”.
As I wrap this essay up, scary things happen on the road all the time. Diving is very serious and can be life threatening and changing which is why it is important to stay safe on the road. Going from point A to B can be life changing for all involved and it is vital to do our part to make the roads safe for all included. I do not have my license yet but I am excited to get it this following year. I am prepared to be a good role model for others on the road no matter who it is and to take all steps to stay safe.