The Christmas Gift

Christmas season is usually heralded by such beautiful weather and ambience where I come from—from the dry harmattan smell to its over-pampering cold, to the foggy and misty mornings, to the holidaying spree, and definitely the ubiquity of free food and drinks. That particular year, we were spending Christmas with a maternal uncle’s family. We had arrived about two days earlier, and it was a wonderful time getting to be in their space as we anticipated Christmas celebrations together. It was so nice to see my cousins after a long time too.

On the big day, the aroma of freshly fried chicken and turkey from the kitchen, and the smell of marinated mutton grilling over the fire on the fore-balcony, were the leading fragrances in the air. My mum and uncle’s wife remained occupied in the kitchen, both preparing a variety of dishes on the go. Meanwhile, my dad, uncle, and a distant uncle were manning the goat meat dressing. We could hear their loud chatter as they bonded over politics, shared experiences, while effortlessly cracking each other up with hilarious jokes.

Myself, my brother, and two cousins darted around the house with our little frames, frolicking between the backyard, the kitchen, and the living room, as our mothers occasionally yelled at us to quit scampering about while they cooked. But children would be children; we never stopped, although we did well to avoid the front porch where our fathers were seated, —they certainly could not mirror our mothers’ patience nor condone our excesses. That much we knew.

The Err-and

After a while, I heard my uncle’s wife beckon to me, as I had just sped past her, and into the living room. Her tone was different this time. She wasn’t berating me. Rather, she asked that I called Uncle Lewa, my distant uncle. My brother and my cousins, on hearing the instruction I was given, jumped at the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the chevon dressing over the fire, courtesy of the men of the house. And so, they trailed behind me as I headed for the porch.

On our arrival, like veteran choristers presenting the dear old ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ symphony, we chorused my aunt’s message, “Uncle Lewa, mummy is calling you!” He responded with a hearty laughter as he advanced toward the door where we stood. And as he approached us, we sped gleefully back into the kitchen to announce his entry. Pressing our tiny bodies against the kitchen door as juvenile curiosity washed over us, we learned that sandwich was for breakfast, but there had been a delay as no one had remembered to get some bread the previous day. My uncle was now required to help get bread. Being Christmas day, most nearby stores were anticipated to be closed; as such, getting bread meant having to go further into town. After the back and forths of what stores could possibly be open on a festive day, they eventually decided Uncle Lewa could take our older uncle’s car down to a certain supermarket.

Excited at the prospect of feeding my eyes with the unique Christmas decorations all over town, I immediately expressed my desire to go with him. My brother and cousins followed suit, but as fate would have it, our mothers disagreed, stating that only I should go with him, a privilege of being the oldest child, no doubt.

Pumped, I dashed into the room, and threw on a shirt and then traded my slippers for my more presentable outing sandals. Once I was good to go, I hurriedly joined Uncle Lewa who was already waiting in the driver’s seat. As I got into the passenger’s seat beside him, I could hear my uncle making jokes about Uncle Lewa being a driver without a car. I, on the hand, was filled with so much pride and bubbling with visible excitement. All I could pay attention to was the drive ahead. My brother and cousins watched from the balcony with sullen faces as we drove out of the compound, music blaring from the car speakers.

Santa or Satan’s Gift?

Uncle Lewa did wear a seatbelt, nor did he ask me to. I recall him driving pretty fast, sporadically bumping his fists on the steering to the rhythm of the beats and swaying his body alongside. It was a whole new experience for me, particularly because I was always forced to use my seatbelt whenever I was in a car with an adult. I was not aware of any impending danger, and neither was Uncle Lewa. The confidence that radiated from his side of the car was all the assurance I needed. But all of that was short lived. I say short because I couldn’t tell for sure how many minutes passed between the dancing, the speeding, and my waking up lightheaded on a hospital bed.

My mum was seated beside me with a swollen face and bulgy eyes, proof that she had long been weeping. My dad was standing beside her looking distraught. He was draped in the same wrapper he had on just before we left home. Still unable to process the situation, I caught a glimpse of Uncle Lewa seated on the bed next to mine. He had a bloodied plaster sitting at the center of his bald head and visible wounds on his forehead. It was the night of Christmas Day. After a while, I discovered that I too was stitched up, with drip being passed into my body. I had a bad cut on my face and a serious dental fracture that altered my dentition to date. Festive season ruined.

We had had a ghastly accident, as Uncle Lewa seemed to have lost control at some point and crashed terribly into a building, condemning the vehicle and incurring expenses on someone’s damaged property. Till now, when I see my dental structure in pictures or in the mirror, I recall the incident and I feel a tinge of leftover pains – A psychological reminder of my excruciating Christmas ordeal. It’s incredible how a merry day can immediately turn terribly sour.

Reflections on Driving Safety

Driving safely is a concept that has a likelihood of manifestation when it is preceded by in-depth knowledge of driving, driving techniques, and driving ethics. In retrospect, Uncle Lewa had just recently learned to drive (learning with a friend’s car), but he didn’t have a car or driver’s license at the time. Despite being a kid then, that singular incident taught me the invaluable lesson on the need for adequate education from professional driving tutors before ever venturing to drive a vehicle.

Subsequently, after duly learning how to drive and understanding the dynamics properly, then comes the will to adhere to the rules and regulations of the act. Frankly speaking, this is where a lot of drivers throw caution to the wind. They feel they know the route too well, so they flout the rules guiding it, placing themselves and inadvertently others at risk of injuries or even mortality.

The Importance of Proper Education

Following proper driving education could prevent countless tragic accidents like the one I experienced. As a driver, when one undergoes thorough training, one not only learns the technical skills of maneuvering a vehicle, but also essential safety protocols and hazard understanding. These form the crux that ensures one responds more responsibly in different road situations, importantly reducing accident risks and fatalities. Thus, it is without doubt that proper driving education instills an understanding of the serious consequences of careless driving, including speeding, neglecting seat belts, distracted driving, drunk driving and tired driving. Some of these highlighted behaviors contributed to our Christmas Day accident.

There are several steps that can help reduce driving-related deaths. Cogent ones include establishing stricter licensing requirements, as it ensures that only individuals who have demonstrated responsible driving habits and knowledge are permitted to drive; mandating regular free refresher courses to help existing drivers remain vigilant; better road infrastructure and visible signage to guide drivers in making safer choices; increasing penalties for reckless driving to discourage unsafe behaviour; and ensuring cars are road worthy before getting on the road, as wearing brakes, bad gears, bad lights and the likes are issues that can lead to fatal accidents.

The Unseen Victims

It is also crucial to remember that animals are often unseen victims of driving accidents. This brings to my remembrance my dog when I was a teenager. Her name was Smart. One night, she somehow got through the gate after she was unchained to maraud the compound for the night. Suddenly, we heard a loud shriek, and we all rushed out. A speeding driver had hit Smart, crushing her forelimbs and part of her body, and whoever the driver was never stopped. She was in so much pain, and I cried a lot just watching her struggle. All efforts to treat her and help her recover proved abortive. She eventually died weeks later.

Stray or wild animals crossing roads, or pets, like my Smart, accidentally let loose can be at risk, adding to the tragic toll of negligent driving.In fact, Fox Weather reports that in 2021, animal versus motor vehicle collisions killed 164 people, and accidents involving collisions with animals are over 1.8 million between July 2022 and June 2023. In other words, careful driving protects not only human life but also respects the lives of animals who share our environment.

Personal Precautions and Extensive Sensitisation

Self-discipline is also key to preventing accidents as a driver. This self-regulation entails; driving within speed limits, minimizing distractions, being alert to other road users, including pedestrians and animals, abstaining from alcohol and being physically fit.

Also, practicing defensive driving by keeping a safe following distance and anticipating potential hazards helps keep accident possibilities at bay. It is important for everyone commuting in a vehicle to be as aware as the driver of driving dos and don’ts so they can also serve as checks and balances if something looks or seems off. This is why it is important for driving protocols to become more democratized, beyond just for people who want to get a license, but for the knowledge and understanding of it.

From schools to workplaces, comprehensive driving education should be included in curriculums and training programs. It would go a long way in keeping people more subconsciously inclined to driving safety and related parameters. I, as a kid, for example, never knew anything about driving or seatbelt usage or importance; as an outspoken kid, I could easily have innocently told my uncle Lewa that my teacher said it was important to use seatbelts when driving and that it was dangerous to drive so fast. But I was naive and was simply enjoying the euphoria of going out with a big uncle in the car. Also, my parents and adults who forced me to use seatbelts never exactly told me why I needed to be strapped to a car seat while driving, as such, I didn’t know the usefulness. So while their intentions were good, their method to ensure compliance was faulty.

Setting Positive Examples

Moreover, it is important that we, as drivers, set positive examples that can influence others. For example, I always ensure that even when I board public vehicles, drivers follow all precautions, and I start by first doing my due diligence as a passenger by using the seatbelt. From there, it gets easier to steer the driver into character throughout the journey. In other words, when we encourage friends, strangers, and family to adopt these habits, it has a ripple effect that fosters a safer driving culture. Such preventive steps honor the lives and well-being of everyone on the road.

Innovative Solutions for Safer Driving

I am also an advocate that automobile companies need to start incorporating some safe driving features, which are likely already premium specs reserved for pricey or luxury vehicles. Imagine having a feature for vehicles called The Wheel Therapist or The Dashboard Therapist. This feature is designed in such a way that it can be customized to speak the car owner’s indigenous language and humorously and sarcastically chastise them for bad driving practices it senses via installed sensors.

Imagine every time one starts driving over the speed limit or unnecessarily starts swerving, a voice comes up and says, “Dear Damilola, is everything okay at home? Do you know that at this pace you could meet your creator?” For someone from my tribe, Yoruba, this expression, said in our indigenous language, would spark incredible laughter and would genuinely curb the driver at that point.

So imagine this “dashboard/wheel therapist” using gentle tones to ask hilariously insightful questions in indigenous languages, with slangs incorporated, like: “Hello Debola, are we running away from our problems? Your speed isn’t giving,” or “Is being 15 minutes early worth the risk of becoming a roadside exhibit?” Subconsciously, one would begin driving so cautiously one might as well be mistaken for an elderly tortoise on a Sunday saunter.

Picture a feature that can detect when your eyes start feeling drowsy and you’re dozing off while driving. This feature activates something that starts harmlessly but visibly vibrating your driver’s seat. Or it triggers a small nuzzle that ejects from somewhere on the steering or your top mirror and gently sprinkles water on your face, while also automatically and gradually slowing down your car, with the Wheel Therapist saying, “Will you stop driving and take a rest, or would you like a shower because I have more water?”

Imagine a feature where the car does not start until everyone in the vehicle is well settled in with seatbelts. Imagine a feature that can detect an alcohol content spike in your body system through installed sensors on the steering and does not let you drive past a certain limit or does not even let the car start at all depending on the alcohol content detected. Features that, when you drive too close to another vehicle, a robotic arm swings across the passenger seat, screaming, “Too close, my dear!” Caught texting? A Textalyzer deploys, delivering a lecture sprinkled with dad jokes (“Cell-ebrate another terrible decision!”). Or try blowing past the speed limit, only for karaoke mode to lock you into a painfully loud eternal singalong of “Tell Me What Makes a Man to Love You The Way I Do,” and you can’t stop it until you reduce your speed limit. And just for flair, bumper stickers of shame pop up for every violation, declaring things like, “I Text and Drive” in bright, humiliating letters.

Ultimately, such innovative and creative features in regular motor vehicles and other measures, as explained above, would do a lot in engendering safe driving and, most especially, help curb accidents and potential injuries and deaths. Finally, drivers with any form of eye defects should ensure they use their recommended glasses while driving and avoid driving when they can no longer trust their vision.