Invest in Rest

The day was Wednesday, and I was probably 8 or 9 years old. I had just come home from school when my aunt told me that my dad had been involved in an accident but to my relief had not sustained any serious injuries. My distraught father and my seemingly calm mother returned home visibly shaken but glad that the ordeal had been just that, an ordeal. I came to learn later on that a truck had lost control and hit my father’s car and somehow, he managed to come out with just scratches albeit the car was totally wrecked. The truck driver was fine too, and he revealed that he had been on the road for a long time and weariness got the better of him. Such incidents occur but not every is as lucky as my father to make it out alive or without serious injury.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 100,000 police-reported crashes are the direct result of driver fatigue each year which results in an estimated 1,550 deaths and 71,000 injuries. The state in which one is dictates how one drives whether it be drowsiness, drunkenness or even being distracted by things like music. Drivers Ed is important because not only does one get to learn about road safety rules but also learn about how the state in which one is, is salient to ensure a safe trip. One is also equipped with the knowledge to potentially call out others when they are not fit to be behind the wheel. Many teenagers are distracted drivers and Drivers Ed is very resourceful in teaching them to not only look out for themselves but their friends as well.

The number of deaths and injuries via accidents can largely be reduced by personal accountability. That means always keeping one’s eyes on the road, not drinking and driving, acknowledging that coffee cannot take fatigue away when behind the wheel. It starts with you because if everyone is accountable to themselves the roads will be safer. Laws put in place also do work to ensure that if violations occur they have to be dealt with which is a small price to pay considering human lives are at stake with reckless driving. Parents need to lead by example as well and show their children what and how a responsible driver operates. Children are easily impressionable and important lessons they learn at a young age are likely to stick. From my father’s experience, I vowed to always be candid with myself and others. If I feel as though I am not in the right state of mind then I cannot be behind the wheel as that will only endanger myself and others. It is important that we arrive alive and if there is a risk that that might not happen then one needs to not drive and find other safe ways to arrive alive.