In an Instant

Lilly Purdon

Arizona State University

In an Instant

I was only fifteen when I was struck by a moving vehicle. It was a Monday afternoon and I was walking the path I had walked hundreds of times to get home from school. A father, carelessly speeding with his infant on his lap stared me straight in the face in that split second right before the collision. He left me in panic, in the middle of the road, alone to face the consequences of his actions. My backpack was still clinging onto my back when I was wheeled into the emergency room. My dream of running the 400-meter event was ripped away from me in an instant. Yet, I was one of the lucky ones.

An estimate of forty-thousand people across our country lost their lives in motor vehicle crashes in 2018 according to the National Safety Council. Approximately, one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities involved speeding, while the most common reason for fatal car accidents involved distracted driving. So why do people continue to drive carelessly? From my experience, not many people take driving as seriously as they should.

Requiring everyone in every state to take a driver’s education course before obtaining their license would be the first step to safer driving. Driver’s education is essential in reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving, not only does it help drivers develop rudimentary vehicle control, but it also focuses on teaching skills essential to operate a vehicle during dangerous driving conditions and so a driver can drive defensively to minimize risk and avoid accidents.

Another step that could be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving would be to have required annual quiz drivers are required to take. This would remind them about the safety and rules and regulations of driving. Once people have driven for a while, some end up forgetting about how important responsible driving is. I also believe that road rules should be adapted alongside technological advancements. An example of this would be developing technology-neutral road rules to prevent driver distractions.

Once educated about road safety, I believe a step you can take to become a safer driver is to make sure you are healthy enough to drive. Oftentimes, people push their own physical and mental limits and continue to drive, even when they are too ill to be behind the driver’s seat. It’s essential for people to take a break from driving when they are not fit to do so, as driving ill can lead to accidents, distractions, and careless driving. Another way to become a better driver as well as help others become safer on the road is by reminding yourself about the consequences of irresponsible driving. A single mishap on the road can change someone’s life or take it away forever.

Years after my accident when I came to college, I was faced with peers who insisted on driving home drunk one night. As someone who endured months of physical therapy due to a careless driver, I felt upset that they would even consider driving under the influence. I immediately told them I wouldn’t allow them to put people’s lives at risk and explained the consequences of impaired driving. Although a couple of people in the group made comments about how paranoid I was initially, they all agreed not to once I told them about my road accident when I was fifteen.

Driving is one of the most dangerous activities we perform daily. Although operating or being a passenger in a motor vehicle has become a routine for most of us, it is still essential that we recognize the risks, educate ourselves on how to minimize these risks, and make sure we are operating vehicles as safely as possible. Because one careless move while driving could change our life or someone else’s life in an instant.