The Unsuspected Killer

Thirty seconds. Eight people. Eight deaths. One car. One late night eight teenagers were driving back from the movie theatre. The driver, a senior in High School, had been the most experienced driver of the group, being a delivery boy for a local florist, being the oldest, and being the most responsible, so the group agreed that he could drive since it would be late at night and the rest had not been as experienced. They had just gotten out of the movie and were ready to go back to one of their houses to make s’mores and hang out, little did they know, that they wouldn’t even get the chance. With no one on the road because it was so late, the flower-delivery boy didn’t think he would need to be as careful, after all, he was experienced. Without paying attention to the slight curve in the road in front of him, he ran off the road, swerved to avoid the mailbox, his foot accidently hit the accelerator, and ran straight into a branch on outskirts of the home. They were automatically injured. Five of them dead on the scene, and 3 more stuck in the car, without anyone driving by to help them, only to later be found the next day, taken to the hospital, and die in emergency surgery.

Each of those teenagers had no idea what would happen that night. They only wanted to enjoy a movie and s’mores with their friends, but ended up in the hospital or with an instant death. Their families did not have the opportunity to say goodbye, which led to many tears, and many regrets. Their other friends had no idea what they would wake up to the next morning, or that the words they said to them last, were the last words they’d ever be able to say again. The pain and tears that was brought to the town and to their friends and family would forever be a reminder of safe driving. But, why should this tragedy have to happen, for people to drive more carefully?

Some states require teenagers to take drivers ed before they can get their permit, or license, however this is not a requirement in all states, even though it should be. Drivers ed is an important part of the cycle to reduce car accidents that result in death. 34,000 people dying on average as a result of driving is unacceptable. 90% of the population of the United States have a license and are able to drive. Imagine if none of those people ever went to a drivers ed class and learned the proper way switch lanes, or about blind spots, or why it is important to stop completely at a stop sign. Several wrecks happen just because people do not stop completely at a stop sign or someone doesn’t see someone behind them in the other lane, or because they are following the car in front of them too closely. If someone doesn’t know about the blind spot of a car, or the pros and cons to smaller car versus a larger car, or how close to follow the car in front of you, then those may seem like small issues that won’t make a big difference but it could save peoples’ lives.

Not only should each state have a drivers ed program through schools, and DMVs but, each parent should teach their child how to drive carefully and be a role model for their driving. I personally have not been effected by a car accident to the degree that I have been seriously injured or I have had a death in my family due to one, but I have had the unfortunate experience of being in a car with an irresponsible driver. This driver would not have his hands on the wheel and accidently go in the other lane multiple different times. My friends and I were in the car and would call him out on his bad driving but he would not stop, instead he would only ignore us, and keep doing what he was doing. This is the epitome of bad driving, knowing you are doing something wrong, and still doing it, even if you are endangering someone else’s life.

Personally, I think that I can be sure not to speed very badly, or follow another car very closely so that I do not hit another. But to help other be safer on the road I can remind them how important it is to wear a seat belt, follow the speed limit, and just to be focused on the road at all times. If I am riding with an irresponsible driver, I can make sure to tell them if I think what they are doing is irresponsible and ask them to drive more carefully or offer to drive myself, so that no one else will get hurt.

Driving irresponsibly causes so many deaths for you and the people in your car as well as the people around you. Not only are you taking your own life in your hands but also the lives of the people who are on the road with you. This means that no matter who you are, or where you are going, you are always responsible for another life. In two years, more Americans die from driving then from the Vietnam war. People should never want to be apart of helping that number increase and helping it exceed any other war.

Driving responsibly is important to anyone at any stage in life. Whether you are just 16 and just got your license or 56 and have had your license for five decades, the importance is the same. Each person should not take for granted how they can drive, because you never know what can happen and who could be hurt if something goes wrong. You do not want to end up like the eight teenagers, and you do not want to be the family or friends of those teenagers, so pass along the message to drive safely and carefully, focusing on and following the rules of the road.