Started with a Bang: A Firsthand Lesson in Defensive Driving

No one ever really thinks that they are going to get in a car accident. I certainly didn't. However, I was sadly wrong. The beginning of my senior year literally started with a bang. I remember driving home after band rehearsal, anxious to go study for my AP Chemistry class because I didn't understand anything. I was driving, and I saw a stale green light, so of course, like every driver, I slowed a bit.

I approached the intersection and saw no one but a white truck in the middle waiting. It was clear that I was about to enter, but little did I know through his tinted windows he was on his phone and not paying attention. I ended up slamming on my brakes, praying and bracing myself for the inevitable impact I was about to receive. The next thing I know, I see smoke in my car, and I look up at the traffic light, and it's still green. I had the right of way, so why did he not stop?

I was incredibly fortunate that a physician leaving his nearby home witnessed the collision. He rushed over to check on me, knowing that when my compact was struck by a massive Ford F-250, physics is rarely on the side of the sedan. My airbags had deployed, and the frame was so warped that I was trapped inside. Terrified and in shock, I called my father, sobbing as the adrenaline began to wear off. The physical toll manifested quickly—my foot throbbed violently from hyperextending against the brake pedal, and my elbow was deeply bruised from impacting the door panel.

When I finally managed to force the door open and step out, the stunned expression on a bystander's face confirmed the severity of the wreck. I couldn't bring myself to look at the wreckage until someone showed me photos later. The doctor on the scene looked at the crushed metal and told me directly that I was lucky to be not injured. That moment is permanently engraved in my memory, and it served as a brutal, firsthand introduction to the critical importance of defensive driving.

Driver education is the foundation of all defensive driving and driving techniques. It is imperative to be educated on the road properly for so many reasons. Accidents occur from lack of judgment, not knowing the proper roadway laws, or misunderstanding right-of-way. The best advice I give people is, when in doubt, wait it out. It's the perfect rhyme but can save you from a car accident. It is okay to sit at the stop sign for a little bit longer to make sure you are in the right and no one will get hurt.

The first thing to help you minimize your accident is to be visually aware. Most accidents happen because of distracted drivers.

This statement was very true in my case. Defensive driving is the best thing you can use to avoid dangerous situations but also combat them as well. The first step of defensive driving is being aware of your surroundings. The ability to acknowledge the cars and things that are around you is imperative. This was the first technique I used in my accident. Since I had been paying attention to the cars surrounding me, I knew there was a Toyota Camry next to me. I knew that I was unable to swerve and avoid him in the next lane. Another thing to keep note of is the other side of traffic. Knowing what is occurring on the other side is super important because if something happens, you need to understand if there is an exit route. In my situation I was unable to go to the left because there was traffic on that side as well.

Now there are two more important things you can do to reduce drivers' deaths and accidents on the road. One of them is to put your phone away while driving. It is an overused statement; however, no one seems to do it. In an age of technology it is hard to not be on your phone. It is best to start your music in the car or message someone before putting your car in drive. Trust me, we are all guilty of it, but my accident taught me that my incident is one of many that can happen, and no one wants to be responsible for someone else's death or injury. 

Lastly is road rage. We have all seen it before: the one car that is tailing behind the slow one out of frustration. I understand it, especially when you are in a hurry. However, road rage leads to reckless driving, and that is what causes so many accidents. It is best to see if you can move around the person and keep moving. I like to see it as a longer drive with my friends.

When we first start driving, we never really think of accidents. We are so excited to finally be able to drive, but it can happen to anyone, and it happened to me. That is why it is so important to have driver education and be aware and intentional with our actions.