Driving. Getting from point A, to point B. It seems simple. Yet, it’s so complicated. It’s a risk every time. Driving shouldn’t be like that. From my personal experience at home and in Driver’s Ed, to how we as a society can lower driving-related deaths, pumping the breaks on vehicular danger is extremely important.
From my own experience, the importance of driver education in reducing the number of driving-related deaths is one of the most important things in our society today. Driving education helps educate, inform, and spread awareness to young drivers about the dangers and precautions of driving. With this insightful tool, driving education is the most effective and mainstream way to inform drivers about the dangers of texting, drinking, and being sleepy while driving. If it wasn’t for my Driver’s Education, I would have not known the dangers of having my friends in the car. Something I remember from my Driver’s Ed experience was that on the last day, they played us a video. In the video, a girl around my age had lost all of her friends in a car accident she caused. They hadn’t been drinking or doing drugs, but instead, they were simply acting crazy. Seeing the consequences of someone’s foolish actions through this video we watched, really has stuck with me 3 years after seeing it. Every time I am behind the wheel now, I remember that the lives of my passengers are in my hands. Driver’s Education has impacted my driving and it is vital to spread these stories in order to prevent more from happening.
Before I was born, my dad was involved in a fatal car accident which has impacted his life, and mine. In the fall of 1990, he was on his way to a party and ran a stop sign. By running that stop sign, he ended up in a crash which put him in a wheelchair and killed the other driver. While my dad’s physical health has recovered, his psychological health is still riddled with regret, pain, and grief every single day. Because of his accident which was decades ago, he has continued to suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Things such as the smell of Fall, to pots and pans banging in the kitchen, send him into a horrific place no one can imagine. Seeing my dad freeze and break down has left such an impact on me, as I have first-hand recognized the aftermath of reckless driving. My dad has even told me on the day I was born, he had an episode in which he felt immense sorrow and grief for the man he killed. The simple choice to run a stop sign has changed my dad’s life forever, and in turn, has taught me a valuable lesson. I learned the value of a choice. And now, when I see him sit on the couch and loudly mourn for his victim, I am reminded to always make the safe choice when driving.
I was also the victim of a car accident when I was two years old. We were driving home from the grocery store, listening to a Disney CD, and then all of a sudden, a Semi-Truck hit our car, in the place I was sitting. My memory of this event is extremely fuzzy, but something that I will never forget is how even though I should have died on impact, I didn’t. I survived that car accident without a scratch on me. The fact that I survived in such good condition has given me a reason to live, a purpose in life. My mom always tells me that there’s a reason I was put on this earth, and I believe it because I am still alive.
In order to reduce driving-related deaths, it’s vital to share stories such as my dad’s, in order to reach people emotionally. Textbook statistics such as the one provided are very broad. Don’t get me wrong, they do have a lasting impact on the people who view them, but behind each and every number that contributes to the statistic lies a tragic story. Hearing these stories inspires the listeners to be cautious, have control, and drive safely. I honestly can’t remember every “rule of the road” that I learned in Driver’s Education. However, I remember the way I felt when I watched that video, and I remember how I felt when my dad’s episodes overtook him. Feelings overrule facts when discussing impact. So it’s important for victims to come forward and advocate on behalf of their family members, as I am doing now in this essay.
As a teen driver, I have always been the one to drive my friends around. My birthday is in September, which makes me on the older side of my grade. I always have been the “mom” in my friend group, and have taken measures to ensure my passengers’ safety. Firstly, I make sure everyone has their seatbelts safely on at all times. I always check no matter what hurry we all might be in. The saying is true, seatbelts save lives. Secondly, I keep my car clean. I know that’s not necessarily impactful in a life-or-death situation, but keeping a clean car helps me stay focused on what’s going on outside the car, and not what’s inside. I always have my friends text on my behalf if I need to get a hold of someone, and I’m always cautious about how loud my music is. When it comes to others, I always try my best to set a good example as a teen driver to my peers. If I’m driving safely, chances are they will too. However, I am at times strict with them. If something compromises our safety, even for a second, I’m vocal about how dangerous we are and make sure they know not to do it again.
So driving. Getting from point A to point B. The complexities of driving shouldn’t exist, but they do. But as an empowered teen who has seen firsthand the value of a choice, and the value of a life, driving can change your life forever. Even for the worst. But if we as a nation and as a society unite to spread awareness through Driver’s Education and personal stories, we can make a difference and lower that depressing statistic. We can do it. We just need to push the gas pedal in order to start.