Driving Kills Dogs, Too

Recently, I had the pleasure of reuniting with an old friend. She was in town on vacation with her family, staying at a local motel with little reception-- thus, she was happy to escape for the evening. We met at a small coffee shop a few towns over and took the time to share stories and swap updates. I inquired about Bella, her 40-pound golden retriever, who had been a hallmark of my childhood. The grim look that shadowed her face at the mention of Bella made my heart drop. 

“We were driving to the tennis courts; I had her in the passenger seat of my car. Her head was out the window, and her drool was covering the interior. She knew exactly where we were going, and she was so excited. I went to make a left turn, and…” 

“The guy was driving an SUV,” she continued. “So my car was totaled. And Bella…” She choked. 

“He was texting his wife,” she hung her head in her hands. “He felt really bad. He said he had a dog, too.”

She was lucky she hadn’t sustained any serious injuries, but I knew the blow to her heart was just as severe. 

Roughly 3,287 people die every day from car accidents worldwide (driving-tests.org). This means every 25 seconds one life will be taken as a vehicular fatality. While there is a War on Terror and a War on Poverty, there is yet to be a battle against the dangers of reckless driving. Contrary to the belief of most drivers, driving is a privilege. No one is entitled to their license. However, everyone is entitled to learn the rules of the road. It is a requirement that everyone with a license receives the proper education in order to reduce the likelihood of accidents. The statistics behind unsafe driving are not always so shocking for those fortunate enough to go their whole lives without any incident of vehicular fatality. Don’t wait for your life to become a statistic. Take action now! Seek the education necessary to become a driver and follow all traffic rules and regulations. Engage in defensive driving by being cautious and courteous. Even steps as simple as wearing a seat belt and never driving while under the influence are great ways to prevent road accidents.

Following the death of my boyfriend’s uncle, who had unknowingly taken his last motorcycle trip just a few weeks ago, I myself will start taking steps to improve my safety on the road. This means more practice with complete stops, obeying the speed limit, and improving my turns. If I’m going to get my license, I’m going to earn it. The driver’s seat isn’t for just anyone– its for mature adults looking to safely arrive to work on time; for teens that have practiced hours on the road to properly handle a vehicle; for dog owners looking to spend the evening with their pet at the tennis courts.