After having a good night's sleep and a couple of crepes with whipped cream, I couldn’t stop smiling. My excitement was like a rocket being launched into space. This whole week I’ve been looking forward to field day at school. On the way there, my mom stopped and waited for the road to clear. It didn’t take long for a line to form behind us. I said “Go” hearing the cars behind us honk. She turned, and suddenly the car started spinning. Instead of honking all I could hear was the shahada being recited. The amount of thoughts that went through my head about those 3 seconds, even 3 years later. But at that moment my mind was blank. My smile turned into a frown, and that rocket crashed back to earth. A red truck had hit us, only inches away from taking my mom's life. Even though our car was done for, God decided to save us. In a matter of seconds, I could’ve lost my best friend.



There are so many reasons why deaths that are related to driving are increasing, but there are also so many steps that can be taken to reduce those deaths.



The main reason why my mom and I almost lost our lives that day was because of the pressure we felt from other drivers, forcing us to make an impulsive decision. There are many similar examples of drivers who are forced to speed or break rules by other drivers, which might not put them in danger, but other people. Driver's education helps educate people on what to do and what not to do when on the road. This way fewer drivers are pressured on the road, resulting in fewer accidents.



A more common type of pressure on the road is peer pressure. It is way more likely for a teen to be in a car accident than an adult. Teens are often pressured by their peers to drive even when they don’t have the experience they need. The best way to stop this is by using ads, news channels, and other forms of social media to let teens know the consequences of risky behavior behind the wheel. Not only will this inform teens, but also other drivers who use social media.



Another reason there are so many deaths related to driving is because of the number of cars on the road. Even though places like the U.S. and Canada have an intricate road network. Fewer cars on the road would decrease car accidents, pollution, money spent, and traffic. Compared to the U.S. and Canada, using public transportation is very common in other areas of the world. If more people are encouraged or given more access to public transportation, then there would be fewer lives lost.



Along with that, a form of public transportation that should be more encouraged and accessed is airplanes. Especially because of long road trips, drivers get tired and zone out. Ending up with them not paying proper attention on the road and falling asleep. Yet, multiple people still go on long road trips to save money. Being one of the safest forms of transportation, by making airplanes more accessible, drivers will stop putting their and their passenger's lives on the line.



Finally, there are many drivers who don't take driving seriously. Whether they are distracted by taking calls, texting, talking to others in their car, listening to music, or being drunk. They all outcome in not paying attention to the road. When you're in a car you are committed to always being aware of your surroundings. Regardless of being the driver, a passenger, or even someone the driver is texting you should be making sure that the driver is not distracted. You can call, text, talk, listen to music, or drink some other time, but you won’t be able to if you're not alive.



I didn’t realize the importance of life until I almost lost mine. I’ve realized from my own experiences that one small mistake on the road could not only take your life but the lives of others. The next time I’m on the road I’ll make sure to not let myself or another driver have any type of distraction or pressure, but also remind myself or them that public transportation is always an option. I won’t let another rocket crash. Almost every life lost on the road can be prevented, so the next time you're driving, be cautious for yourself and the people around you.