Last New Year's Eve, I recall rain and wind hitting my face as I approached my car to return home. My mother requested that I begin my journey home as soon as possible, due to the treacherous weather and the amount of intoxicated drivers on holidays such as New Years. Per her request, I opened my car door at 12:30 AM sharp, started the car, clicked on my lights, and shifted to drive.
Perhaps I was slightly more attentive due to my knowledge of the conditions, however I began my ride as carefree as many teenagers, by turning up my bluetooth and beginning to sing as I switched on my seat heaters. The drive from my friend's house to mine was one I have completed countless times, and the twenty minutes I would spend on the freeway always felt as comfortable as home.
However, as I continued onward I became more anxious regarding the conditions, as it began pelting to a point that I could barely see despite the best efforts of my windshield wipers. My nerves led me to transition to the right lane, where I began to drive slower and remained out of the way of other drivers. Moments after I made this change, a ram truck came speeding past me in the far left lane, and I watched as the car crashed horribly into the cement divider of the freeway.
The sparks and fire from the ram’s crash only held my attention for so long, because soon after that other drivers began to swerve out of the way and into other lanes. I continued driving in the far right, just beyond the fiery grasps of the chaos ensuing in the left lanes. My heart raced through my chest as I attempted to reattribute my focus to the road ahead of me as opposed to the disaster to my side.
When playing the scene in my head, I became appalled at the ease in which the accident took place. The ram was simply going down the freeway when the accident took place, and the following cars were victim to their reaction times and placement on the road. Realization washed over me as I processed my position before the lane switch.
I too would have been caught in the jumble of cars and rain if I had not cautiously moved toward the right. The thoughts pounding in my head seemed to travel down my arms and to my hands, which gripped the steering wheel with such strength my knuckles seemed white. I let out a couple tears for the innocent people who were to be affected by the accident and a couple more at the thought of my potential involvement. Not only did this accident shake me up, but it provided me with a much needed wake up call.
The next morning, I told my mom the incident and we both discussed the gravity of the situation and also how important it was that I was driving cautiously at the time. According to the U.S Department of Transportation, more than 1.2 million people are victims of weather related accidents, which is a significant part of the 6 million total accidents per year. The danger of the roads is unquestionable, and having experienced this event, my mindset was truly changed.
Not only do I have to diligently focus on my own driving, but I also have to be hyper aware of other drivers and the greater situation. Because of this realization, I have put a great emphasis on defensive driving. Whether I am able to recognize a sketchy lane change from a distance and slow down to give the driver a chance to move into my lane, or be able to command the steering wheel in case of hydroplaning, I want to be ready for anything. With this skill, not only am I able to protect myself, but also the lives of other drivers.
Ultimately, driving accidents are one of the leading causes of death, with over 38,00 yearly victims. Many people tend to overlook the power that they hold when in command of a vehicle, because driving a car is a dull task, so the magnitude of its effects can be lost in the jumble of day-to-day life. However, when you are driving a 4,000 pound car, no matter how mundane the destination, the ability to react within a split second can be the difference between life and death. I hope other people will heed my warnings, and will not wait until they have first handedly experienced the dangers of driving.