Selfishness Kills Drivers

I have had a lot of close calls when it comes to accidents. I walk to school every day, and I have to cross multiple roads to get there. People drive as if they are on the highway, and not in a schoolzone. They speed past the stop sign, drive on their phones, refuse to look to see if someone is crossing, etc. The amount of times I have had to jump out of the way before getting hit has made me scared to drive. I have actively made plans of what to do in an accident due to the amount of bad drivers on the road. The worst close call that I have ever gotten into is when I was crossing the road in the rain. I was around 15 years old, and I had a neon pink umbrella. I was wearing bright clothes, but somehow, the car didn’t see me. Maybe they were in a hurry, or maybe they just didn’t care. They tried to go while I was still crossing, and they almost hit me. They had to slam on the brakes to avoid me. I was terrified. I looked at the driver, to see if there was some reason why I almost got hit. There wasn’t anything wrong. They weren’t on their phone. No reason, no distraction. The driver looked at me with this furious look on their face. Like it was my fault, for daring to get in their way. Once I crossed, they stepped on the gas, and sped off. They thought it was just a mild inconvenience. I thought I was lucky to be alive.

I’ve noticed one main issue, one commonality between the close calls: selfishness. They think the universe cares about them and them alone. It’s their road, and they have generously chosen to share it with us. They have the right to check their phone while they drive. They are allowed to run stop signs. If they almost hit someone, it is always the other person’s fault. If they have to slam on the brakes to stop themselves from hitting a kid, it’s the kid’s fault. They behave as if they are king, and everyone else is a servant. That’s why someone will brake check you, it’s why someone will drive right behind you, honking their horn. It’s why, even though I was following every rule, the driver looked at me with anger. It’s because they think the world revolves around them.They’re the protagonist, so naturally, anyone that makes them slightly annoyed is the antagonist. Something that inconveniences them is something that needs to be purged.

If you drive any vehicle, you need to drop your selfishness right now. Leave it at home. Selfishness is the thing that causes accidents, causes injuries, causes deaths. Whatever the reason is for your behavior; a call from a coworker, the minutes before you’re late, the kids in your car, etc., it doesn’t matter. You do not own the road because you’re a bit late to an appointment. Your notification is not more important than a human life. That other driver is not the devil, they just drove in a way that upset you. You are not a perfect driver that will somehow avoid all possible accidents. 77% of all drivers get into an accident at some point in their lives, according to a study conducted by Esurance. That’s more than two thirds of all drivers. You will not know what group you fall into until it’s too late, so take every step to make sure you are in the minority.

Do not touch your phone while you drive. Personally, I lock my phone in the glove box. Pay attention to the road; road signs are not suggestions, they are there for a reason. Remember that you aren’t alone in the universe, and that you’re driving a metal machine that kills millions each year. Use your turn signal. If you think a pedestrian might be crossing, even if it’s just a small voice in the back of your head, watch the road for them. If you’re drunk, or tired, or you know something will distract you, get someone else to drive. Get on a bus, or ride a bike if you’re unable to get someone else to drive. If you’re struggling with driving, take a class to improve your skills. It is not that hard to drive carefully. You just need to put a little bit of effort into it. A little effort goes a long way.