I think many people underestimate how much a little mistake can end up changing someone's life forever. Schools talk about driving and safety, but they don’t go in-depth about the damage that can be done if even some of the most basic rules aren’t followed. As a teenager myself, I notice that drinking and driving is a major issue, particularly with people my age. We are at the age where we're meeting new people, hanging out, and just beginning to drink legally and enjoy the party life from time to time. It's common for people to terribly misjudge how intoxicated they are and continue to get behind the wheel. I think it’s important to make everyone aware that no matter how much you've drunk, getting behind the wheel is never a good idea. Not only could getting behind the wheel drunk hurt or kill someone else, but it could also kill the driver themselves. Even if no one is hurt in an accident, cars can get destroyed, and other property—such as houses, buildings, etc.—can be damaged. People even underestimate how much wearing a seatbelt could save their life. It's the little things people do—and don’t do—that could save or ruin their life. People also underestimate speeding. I get it—sometimes you don’t realize you're going a few miles over the speed limit, or sometimes it doesn’t feel like you’re driving as fast as you actually are. But a car can always come out of nowhere, and you or someone else could be going too fast to stop. People don’t use their blinkers when merging lanes or turning and expect others to just know they're trying to get over or assume there’s enough space to do so. These are the things that can end up causing accidents—specifically, ones that are 100% avoidable if we just follow the rules.
I feel very passionate about this topic because, in 2022, one of my best friends, Amaru, was killed in a car accident. The examples I used earlier are very personal to me. When Amaru was in his accident, he wasn’t driving but was in the passenger seat. He was out with a couple of friends, and they were all drinking. I guess the driver underestimated how drunk he was because, on his way to take my friend home, he ended up losing control of the car and crashed into a nearby house. My friend was the only one who died in the accident. He wasn’t wearing his seatbelt and jolted from the seat, and when the accident happened, he died immediately on impact. I think because they were all underage and drinking, they freaked out about the cops coming. Once they realized Amaru was dead, they all fled the scene and left him there. Justice was served, and the driver is currently awaiting trial, but ever since then, I always find my mind going back to the same three questions: What if he had decided not to get into the car that night? What if he had worn his seatbelt? And why Amaru? We were only freshly seventeen at the time, and the entire tragedy rocked me and my friends’ world completely. I had just taken my driver’s test a few weeks prior and was waiting for my official license to arrive in the mail, but even after I got my license, I didn’t drive for a very long time. I developed major car anxiety, and the accident made me think about how many people are being reckless on the road, driving under the influence, and how what happened to Amaru could’ve happened to me or any of my other friends. From that day forward, I made a promise to myself and to Amaru that I would never put myself or anyone else on the road in danger intentionally. I reread and studied my driver’s manual from cover to back, making sure I knew all the rules. The first thing I do when I get in a car, still to this day, is put on my seatbelt and adjust it securely. I use my blinkers religiously, stop at every stop sign and red light, always let people merge over, and best believe I have never and would never get behind the wheel drunk or intoxicated. Honestly, after Amaru’s death, the thought of ever drinking alcohol makes my stomach hurt and my heart skip a beat. I'm not sure it’s something I will ever end up doing.