The Memorial

          Every Tuesday, as I drove on the highway to my dual enrollment class at a local college, I passed the cross and flowers on the side of the road by a field. One evening, I saw a car on the shoulder with its blinkers on, and a woman was standing by the memorial. It made me wonder – who was the memorial for? What happened? How could it have been prevented?
          While the memorial was made to help a grieving family, it actually is yet another distraction for drivers. Billboards, memorials, and other signs draw attention away from the road. These are not as significant distractions, however, as cell phones, boisterous passengers, or loud music. Even GPS, meant to help drivers, can be yet another danger in the car. 

          While I learned to drive, I did not have any music playing. I did not use GPS because my parents knew where we were going. The only passengers in the car were my parents and my younger brother who knew I was learning and was respectfully quiet. Suddenly, I had my license, and everything changed. The radio was mine to control. I had a friend with me often who would chat with me as I drove. We’d have to stop talking to hear the GPS directions, since I didn’t know how to get everywhere on my own.  Nothing prepared me for this. I read the driver’s manual, I had excellent teachers, but this was something I had yet to experience. This change could have set me up for a life-altering accident. However, I remained in control of my car environment and how I responded to the world around me. I have witnessed classmates, however, behaving irresponsibly. They pile in more passengers than legally allowed, which is a big distraction. I see them driving erratically out of the school parking lot, faster than they should be going, radio blaring through the open windows. I refuse to let some of my friends drive me because of their unsafe behavior.

          One thing I have had drilled into me from my earliest memories is the importance of safety. I was never the kid that went running across streets without holding my dad’s hand. I did not climb to the top of the playground equipment without a parent making sure I was secure. Even in taxis and shuttle vans at airports, I always wear my seatbelt. I consistently make sure that all my passengers have their seatbelts on before I put the car in drive. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 48% of traffic accident fatalities in 2024 were not wearing their seatbelt, and I want to ensure that I am not part of that statistic. 

          Reckless driving seems to be increasing. Despite laws enacted to prevent phone usage while driving, I have not noticed a decline in phone use among other drivers. I have had to swerve into the shoulder to avoid being hit by a tractor trailer entering my lane. When I continued past the truck I noticed the driver on his phone. Often, cars do not start driving at green lights and the driver suddenly puts down their phone and hits the gas pedal. Recently, a driver passed me and the car in front of me in a no passing zone on a busy road with limited visibility. Everyone seems to be in a hurry and seems annoyed by me driving the speed limit. They keep minimal space between our cars which can easily lead to an accident if I need to stop suddenly.

          Driver’s education classes may help reduce these unsafe behaviors. In the course I attended, there was a discussion about distracted driving. We watched videos with personal stories from family members of people who died due to accidents caused by cell phone use. This was impactful as it was a real story told by loved ones. Statistics were shared related to the number of times a driver’s focus is taken off the road while simply sending one text message. In my high school health class, we also reviewed unsafe driving habits. This included a video, discussion, and essay related to an accident which killed several students of a local high school while driving irresponsibly.  

          I think back to the woman standing by the memorial on the side of the highway. I wonder if she too will be part of a future video to spread awareness of distracted and reckless driving. I hope others pay as much attention as I do to the safety of others when they get behind the wheel of a car.