The moment you get your license is the moment you feel the freedom. All you can think about is driving with your friends, blasting music, and not having to wait on your parents for a ride. It’s finally your opportunity to go wherever, whenever. But, what you don’t think about is the responsibility that comes with it. You’re not only responsible for your life, you’re also responsible for the lives of the other people on the road. As someone who got into a car accident at the age of 16, only having my license for 2 months, I can say it was pretty scary.
As I was driving, I came over a hill. I wasn’t on my phone nor was I speeding. What I didn’t know was that the van in front of me was stopping. I don’t remember seeing brake lights, which is why I didn’t slow down. After I collided with the van, I then got rear-ended. I don’t remember the feeling of getting hit, but I was also in a Ford truck. The car behind me ended up going under my truck bed, which is why I believe I did not feel it. As I hit the van, I’m became very aware of how thankful I was for seatbelts and airbags. By wearing my seatbelt, it was able to keep me from flying out of the windshield and hitting my chest against the steering wheel. As a result of the accident, no one was injured minus a few scars. From the seatbelt, I had a cut on my upper arm and some bruises on my chest, but I’d rather have those then be in critical condition in the hospital.
After the accident occurred, I remember freaking out and trying to call my parents. My dad didn’t answer the phone so I tried my mom. When she heard the news, she immediately left work and rushed to me. The only problem was that the highway was backed up with traffic so she wasn’t able to get to me. From where the accident occurred, I lived less than a mile away. My neighbor is a fire chief. His station was the one that showed up on the scene. When my parents found out they couldn’t get to me, they called him and asked if he would come stay with me so I’d have someone there I knew. He was able to help me get my insurance stuff all figured out with the police as well as keep me as calm as possible. When I saw my mom’s car pull up to the scene, I immediately ran to her. I know she was trying everything in her power to stay as calm as possible for me because she knew I was freaking out.
Shortly before we were getting ready to leave, my dad showed up. He parked his car on the top of the hill, and, when I saw him, I sprinted as fast as I could to hug him. At that moment, I had never felt more relief to hug my dad. As I get older, I’ve learned to not take any moment for granted as that accident could have been much more worse then it turned out to be.
One piece of advice I would give to beginning drivers would be to take Drivers Education. With this, you are guaranteed to learn how to be a safe driver with experienced and trained teachers. You are able to learn traffic laws, and responsible behavior that can lead to reducing the number of fatalities on the road. One mistake I made was not doing Drivers Education. Now although my dad was a great teacher, I didn’t feel like I was as prepared for the road as I would be if I had taken Drivers Education.
While you drive, the number one thing is to pay attention to the road. While it’s fun to listen to music and everything, messing with the playlist to find the one song you want can distract you. One suggestion could be to create a playlist with all your favorite songs, and then when you get in your car turn it on to shuffle and put your phone away. That way you can listen to the music you want while also being safe on the road. If you have trouble with texting and driving, it might be beneficial to put your phone on do not disturb or sleep mode, that way your messages don’t pop up to distract you.
Overall, driving is fun but can also be dangerous. It’s important to take the right steps so you are fully prepared for when you start driving for the first time. You can have fun but ultimately safety is the #1 priority.