Tragic accident

Reckless Driver

The minimal amount of time texting takes your attention from the road is 5 seconds, and at 55 mph, this equal driving the length of a football field without looking at the road. Almost every 90 seconds, someone is injured in a crash because of drunk drivers, car crashes are the leading cause of teen death in the U.S. 16 and 17-year-old driver death rates increase with each additional passenger. It’s important to know the skills and attitude needed to be a safer driver and pedestrian. Using those skills and attitude, you lower your chances of being involved in a costly or deadly accident, you also reduce the costs of law enforcement and property damage. 89% of teens said their parents have the biggest influence on how they drive. Playing a role as a parent contributes a lot to the teen’s education also. Teen parents need to get involved and help teach them skills that driving school does not. Teenagers look up to their parents and follow the skill and technique they use while driving. Personally, I have been a victim of a hit and run. About two years ago is when I was passed my road test with flying colors, I was always so anxious as to learning new things pertaining to driving that I’ve always had the urge of being behind the wheel. It was a huge relief off my parents back when I passed the road test for two reasons. One, I was their last child and two I could finally stop depending on them to take me to school, work, the mall ect. Around march of 2019 is when I had my first car accident. Now you might be wondering, how could I remember such a specific date? That day was nearly close to my birthday and quite frankly one of the worst days of my life. I remember it being a Friday, right after school my friend asked me did I want to go to the mall with her after school, and I remember telling her I have to get home to something but maybe later on that day. Hours passed by and we planned on meeting up at the mall around 6clock. Prior to that time, we were getting ready to head out. Before leaving home, I remember telling my Dad I was going to the mall, and his response was “okay drive safe and be home by 10:00.” Nothing came across my mind because that was the usual mom and dad talk. OfCourse when I get in the car, I take all the precautions necessary as to putting on my seatbelt and checking my mirrors. I receive a message from my friend saying she is five minutes away, but I did not respond because I was driving and vibing to my music. As I approached a red light, I casually sat their until it turned red, as the light turned green I proceeded to go and that’s when all of a sudden I look over and a car comes flying toward me, leaving me and my car laying on the side of the road. From my prospective the car was trying to make the light. Gratefully I was still conscious enough to unbuckle my seatbelt, but I could not find my phone. I begin to panic a little because all these thoughts kept running through my head like, I’m only 17 what if I could never drive again or what will my parents say. As much as I look back on this situation, I cannot remember how got out the car but all I remember next is a lady approaching me asking if I was okay and that she had already contacted 911. The conscious part of me do not remembering responding but then the other part just remembers me saying so much and panicking. I’d say maybe about a 10-minute wait until the paramedics came, all I could remember from that night is officers asking me a whole bunch of questions and me not knowing the answers to half of them because I was not in the wrong. The brightest side of that nigh was seeing my parents rush into the emergency room with so much fear in their eyes that something had happened to me. I was so frightened that my parents would not understand the circumstance and believe that it was all my fault, but that was not the case they were completely understanding and forgiving. That night took a lot of way from me but one thing it did not take away was my dignity.