May 14, 2025 5:00am. The hour that changed my life forever. I woke up around 4:15am to get ready for work that day. Normal as usual, took my shower, brushed my teeth, made my breakfast and got my lunch out the refrigerator and out the door I go. Get in my car and off to work on a 45mins drive I go; leaving around 4:50am. It’s 5am and I’m driving down the I-10 west as I normally would; I thought nothing of it when putting my phone in my hand to change the video I was listening to as I’m making a lane change wouldn’t hurt, I’ve done it before. I soon realized how big of a mistake that was for me to do. Car started spinning and drifting until I see a bush right beside me. I closed my eyes and my car started rolling off the road into the dirt. Car parts and my belongings scattered across the I-10. Speed limit was 75miles per hour but I was going 80 – 85mi. After rolling about a good 3 times, I opened my eyes to see I was upside down. I was awake through it all. Terrified and alone instantly started crying full of fear. I didn’t know if my car was going to explode or what but all I knew was I had to get out of there. I started screaming and crying for help but in my head, I didn’t care if anyone came to help, I just had to get out. Luckily, I always wear my seatbelt, survival instinct kicked in and I immediately was trying to figure a way out of my now sardine can mangle-up car. Clicking the seatbelt thinking to myself “Thank God I’m not trapped in it.” I fell to what was once my ceiling became my floor. But I was still freaking out being in an upside-down car. I noticed my airbags were blocking my driver side window but saw my passenger side window was open for me to escape.
It took a couple tries to shimmy my way out of my car but I did…I made it out. Blood dripping down my hand, I instantly look at my car and cry for my car but then I realized wait I was just in this car and realization set in that this could’ve been my last morning, my last hour, my last time hearing my family’s voices, seeing their faces, laughing and smiling with them. I just cried hysterically. At the same time my Apple Watch was on the phone with police apparently in an accident Apple calls 9-1-1 immediately. I was thankful and scared all at the same time. That phone that was once in my hand before the accident wasn’t even a factor in my brain afterwards. I am thankful beyond measure to still be alive today and come out with only a couple of scratches and neck rug burn from the seatbelt. The car crash should’ve killed me I was given a second chance to do the right thing and make a difference than make one measly mistake. That day changed my life forever, my life could have been lost from just one simple stupid mistake like picking up your phone while driving. It has made me more one aware of my surroundings while driving and two just being more of a safe driver in general. This was a dent in my life for sure but it made me see the bigger picture of it’s not that serious and it can wait. It can wait until you get to your destination. Having your phone in hand is not a flex or funny, it’s dangerous and can lead to accidents like this. Of course, I don’t even look at my phone when driving anymore I’ll have whoever is in the car with me change the music or whatever is going to take my eyes off of the road I’ll either wait or if someone is with me just have them do it for me. I also now have phone holder so I’m not picking it up or using it. It’s just not worth the finances, the legal work, and most importantly it’s not worth you losing your life.
Safe driving is so important especially in the state I reside in because 1% of drivers are killed in car accidents in Arizona. Over 121,107 crashes were reported just in 2024 alone with 1% being fatal. Even 1% of fatal accidents is still a lot of fatalities. Safe driving is not only for yourself but for everyone else around you. It only takes one distraction, one mistake for something to go wrong. The biggest challenge I believe teenagers have when driving is one being big headed, meaning thinking you got it like that and no one can touch you or anything bad is going to happen to you. Second challenge I believe teens have while driving is the carelessness of driving and driving around others. I believe in most teens theirs not the cognitive understanding of now I drive I need to be more aware and a defensive driver. Teens don’t think about the aftermath or responsibility of getting into an accident even if it’s not fatal and what comes with it. Putting down the phone, not being impaired while driving can benefit in decreasing that 1% down to none. Driving education is there for you to make you a better and safer driver around others that may not be so safe. Making sure seatbelt is secured for everyone in the car, being aware of your surroundings and understand the laws and rules of the road will help prevent careless driving. No one deserve to lose their life over a mistake that could’ve been prevented. I understand being a teenager and getting that first car and just wanting to ride and have fun, but what I’ve learned over the years of driving is that, driving is a privilege it’s not for any of us should be taking for granted. I’ve lost too many friends to driving carelessly before even graduating high school. Just in 2024, it was reported that 6.3% of drivers involved in fatal car accidents were teen drivers. While this number has decreased from the previous year, it still is more than what would like to see, which is 0. In order to combat car accidents and fatalities, teens should pledge and promise to be a safer driver, communities should hold fun different events with Law Enforcement to promote safer driving habits and really get involved in the high schools and even middle schools to instill in children that will be teens and teens going out into the world that driving is a serious matter, it is also a privilege that shouldn’t be taken for granted.