‘In the Blink of an Eye”

I
was “flying high” that day. Not on drugs but on my
accomplishments. It had been a fabulous day. It was awards day at
my high school. Since I was in middle school and saw the marshalls
at a high school graduation, I knew I wanted to be one at my high
school. This was my day. I was leading row 4 into the graduation
ceremony. Being 8th in my class of 386 guaranteed me this spot.
Nobody was prouder than I was wearing that sash. After the ceremony,
I got in my car and headed to my part-time job at a Veterinarian
Clinic. It was raining and traffic was heavy on I-95. People were
headed south for summer vacations. In the “blink of an eye” a
motorcycle changed lanes, was in front of me, and hit his brake. I
hit the brakes, the car began to hydroplane into the median, and I
T-boned a concrete pylon. Next thing I remember, I was in an
ambulance with a neck collar and IV.

I
learned a lot about safe driving that day. I sought counseling from
my drivers ed teacher and my parents. After an accident, a
driver can be full of self-doubt and questions about his or her
driving capability. The police officer who arrived on the scene
assured me that the accident was not my fault. Still, I wanted to
make sure to learn from this experience so I could be a better
driver. In bad weather, a driver should pay extra attention to
other drivers. They all should reduce their speed in these
conditions. I shared my story with my bible study group and all my
friends. Talking about it helped me heal mentally. Sharing this
event at school can also help others recognize the importance of
driving safety.

My
drivers ed class was during the summer of my 14th year.
Passing the class and the learners permit test with 100% was my goal.
That goal was achieved when I turned 15. Taking notes in class,
reviewing those notes, and studying for the permit exam is the core
of drivers safety. Knowing the rules of driving and practice behind
the wheel cannot be underestimated. Without this knowledge, my story
could have had a different and difficult ending. No one else was
hurt and my injuries were minor. My drivers ed training
definitely helped reduce the numbers of death as a result of driving.

Including
driving experience during rainy weather is one step to reduce the
number of deaths related to driving, if it is included in driver
education. Films related to inclement weather driving should also be
included in drivers ed. Also, including virtual driving
lessons as an added learning tool would be helpful and interesting to
these teenage drivers.

Drivers
learn from experience and from drivers ed. The two go hand in
hand and this learning experience never stops. The knowledge I
gained from my experience is something I readily share with other
drivers. When driving, “In the Blink of an Eye” is real. Stay
alert and stay alive.