Unshielded Mind

Unshielded
Mind

When you are a young, the reality of dying in a car accident is too
far-fetched to be comprehended and truly understood; that is until
something changes your perspective and exposes your naive mind to the
real world. One day, my mom came to pick me up from school with a
somber look on her face. I asked what was troubling her and she told
me that a dear family friend of ours had just been in a car accident.
This friend was rushed to the hospital and was diagnosed with extreme
brain trauma and the doctors believed it was a slim to none chance
that she will survive. She was in the hospital for months, she was in
and out of comas, and parts of her skull had to be removed and
replaced. This young woman was a bright college student who was
studying to become a doctor and now she is fighting for her life. I
later found out that she collided with an irresponsible driver. This
changed my entire view of driving and how reckless and irresponsible
driving could truly alter a person’s life. Defying all odds, this
woman survived, but she will never return to her original self. She
can no longer drive, she can no longer study in college, and she can
no longer achieve her goal of being a doctor.

After that incident, I truly became enlightened about the importance
of drivers ed. If the person who collided with her had a
better understanding of how detrimental an irrational decision could
be, maybe he would have been more careful. I believe that driver’s
education is a type of knowledge that shouldn’t be taken lightly. If
more people were truly educated on how their decisions while driving
could affect their life and those of others, the number of ignorant
actions taken when driving would be reduced, minimizing the number of
casualties. A few ideas come to mind on how to reduce the number of
deaths associated with irresponsible driving. A higher age
requirement for driving, I believe, would reduce the number of yet to
mature adolescents driving on the streets, furthermore, protecting
themselves and those around them. Additionally, vehicles today should
come standard with a breathalyzer device that requires the drivers to
be tested for alcohol prior to being able to start the car.

As a young adult, I now have put matter in my own hands. When I’m
riding with my friends, I never hesitate to speak up when I see them
go for their phone or try and pass the speed limit. As for me, to be
a better and safer driver, I don’t start the car until I put myself
in a focused and safe mindset. I also keep myself aware of the
drivers around me so that I can anticipate their actions and how they
may affect me. Safety when driving is crucial, and even though some
may not understand it now, I feel that educating them on the topic
will definitely leave an image in their mind.