Light in the Darkness

“Dale que tú puedes.” This symphony of words dictates the decisions I make in life. My dad’s unrelenting determination has inspired the growth that I have seen in myself and allowed me to realize how difficult life can be. My dad was driving home after an exhausting day of work, the light turned green, and he went to cross the intersection. From one moment to the next, all he could hear were the sounds of a siren and the murmur of a helicopter. From one moment to the next, my family’s life changed forever. A dark cloud cast a shadow over my family and all we could see was darkness. This was all because a college student was using their phone while driving and ran a red light. He faced little to no repercussions, while my family’s whole life was turned upside down. Not one, not two, but seven screws were placed on his knee in order to prevent him from losing his leg; a metal rod replacing his bone. What did the doctor tell him? He will never walk again… My dad is my family’s provider, the only person to sustain our family and at that moment he was closer to death than he had ever been before.

I went day after day to the hospital watching as he struggled to get back on his two feet. My mom’s voice, “dale que tú puedes” echoing in my mind. This situation helped me realize the difficulties life can throw at you, and how fast it can change in a millisecond. The unwavering strength and determination my dad had, along with my mom’s support allowed him to regain his strength and walk once more after years of rehab. This inspired me to never give up, because as my mom said “I can do it”, no matter what.

Much like it happened to my dad, accidents on the road caused by other people driving while on their phone are unfortunately a constant occurrence, especially in the age of technology. Young people are extremely attached to their phones, some may say that their whole lives are in them: communicating with others, pictures of memories, GPS to get to locations, reminders of what they need to do, the time and date, and much much more. It is no surprise that having access to a device with so many uses, means that young people have become reliant on it. However, despite relying on our phone, it is important that we adhere to the instances we shouldn’t be using a device. Driving a 4,200-pound death machine that is going at 60 mph is one of those instances. The fact that police are able to pull over people that are texting while driving makes me feel safer on the road, although just a little. Not a lot of drivers are aware of this. That, and how some are overconfident in their abilities to text and drive that they become careless. I believe that the best way to prevent the occurrence of accidents caused by distracted driving (more specifically phone usage) is through education.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “drivers under 24 are much more likely to text while driving (44% to 49%) than older drivers. When looking at these alarming numbers, we should focus our efforts on this group of people. It all should start from even before they receive their license. I propose that in High School—the time when adolescents are looking to get their permit—we have a group of their peers (other students) go to classes and present to them about the importance of safe driving. By having students give these presentations teenagers are more likely to listen, seeing as the information is coming from their friends. Additionally, by making it more of a conversation, the students will be able to open up about their experiences with distracted driving. My hope is that by exhibiting vulnerability, their subconscious will be thinking about those stories the second they pick up their phone while driving.

It is important that we create a society that is more aware of the dangers of distracted driving. Fortunately, that dark cloud that once cast a shadow over my family has since then dissipated and turned into light. Though, there are some that aren’t as fortunate. The truth of the matter still is that we only have one life, and it can change in a millisecond. By educating the youth on these dangers, I hope that less people have to go through difficult times as a result of unsafe driving.