Life can change in the blink of an eye. One moment you are having coffee with a friend and the next you are at their funeral. In some way, everyone has been affected by a car accident or known someone who has. Everyone is aware, but the worst part is some people don’t care to learn about driver education until it is too late. It's heartbreaking to see the effects that car accidents have on others because so many car accidents are preventable. Most accidents are preventable and that's why driver education is so important. Driver education is important because when you understand your enemy you can take better precautions not only for yourself, but also for others. You don't want to one day wake up and have to carry the weight of injuring someone or even causing death while you were behind the wheel of a car. That will eat away at you forever because you didn't want to hurt anyone, but at the end of the day, you did.
To reduce the number of deaths related to driving, individuals can begin to understand why there are so many accidents. A lot are related to technology, distraction, alcohol, and other substance abuse, and some are related to others' egos. When I say ego, I mean someone trying to show off and pull attention. I don't know the whole story, but an example of what I'm trying to explain is a trial that took place back in 2018 that sentenced an 18-year-old boy to 24 years in prison for racing his Mustang and hitting a baby and its mother. This accident was preventable and for the rest of this boy's life, he will be haunted by the fact that if he chose to go slower both of these people would still be alive. It's important not only to teach people how to drive correctly, but also the reality that if you don't drive safely, death and car accidents can occur. A lot of accidents also happen due to someone being under a substance. When someone is drunk, or high, their response time, decision-making skills, and overall mental capacity are severely diminished. You aren't able to make educated, calculated decisions and because of that car accidents will occur. It's important to educate others about the magnitude of how alcohol and other substances affect your brain. Make the right decision and if you can't make it home safely, call a pickup service, a friend, or walk. Never drive because one simple 5-minute drive might turn into years in prison.
It's a weird thing to say, but I've always said my family is cursed with car accidents. I've been in a car accident twice, my grandpa has been in two serious car accidents that have affected his heart and brain. He has a pacemaker and some memory loss. My sister was in a car accident that left the driver, her friend, paraplegic and the passenger, also my sister's friend, dead. In this accident, the driver was taking a corner too fast and he lost control of the car. My sister was 17 around this time and I was 12. I remember my mom getting a call around midnight and seeing her go white. I thought there was something wrong with my dad, but when I found out it was my sister, my heart sank. It was terrible to see my sister in pain and have all the bruises to show for it. Everyone kept telling her how lucky she was to be alive and only have a few scratches, but I know my sister didn't feel lucky. She was the one to survive, but now she has to live with the guilt. My sister also lost her dad to a car accident. Seeing how many people have been taken away by car accidents in my sister's life has been a very hard thing to see her struggle with. She's lost so many friends and to lose your dad at such a young age, it affected her. When something like this happens it affects everyone. I've always tried to be there for my sister, but when something like that happens a lot of emotions present themselves. Anger, sadness, guilt, regret, and all the above.
To become a better and safer driver you need to understand not only the lawful way to drive, but you also need to understand the risk that you take on everytime you are behind the wheel. You are no longer only putting your life at risk, but everyone around you. Take into account that if something happens you will be the one that has to carry the weight of the result. Acknowledge the danger that driving carries. You can also minimize distractions. Put your phone on ‘Do Not Disturb’ when driving and remain focused on your surroundings. Being a good driver means being a good defensive driver. Use your turn signals and follow the laws of the road. All of these steps can be taken to help protect yourself and others. At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is getting from place A to place B safely, so put the phone down and remain focused.