Cruisin For A Bruisin

The day I received my driver’s licenses was the best day of my life. It represented freedom and responsibility. I didn’t have to ask family members for a ride to practice anymore and I could explore the world. But within the two years of having my license I realized quickly that no matter how safe you could be, the actions of someone else can cause an accident. This year alone I was in two car accidents that were not my fault.

The first accident was in February of 2022. I was on my way to pick up my younger brother from school and then after attend swim practice to prep for sectionals. An Amazon truck stopped traffic to deliver a few packages. So obviously I stopped but the two cars behind me didn’t. They both rear ended me and as I flinged forward and went straight back the nerves in my back shot down to my legs. I didn’t want to believe this happened to me. I was overthinking so much to the point where I had two panic attacks on site. The whole time Ii was thinking about everyone else but myself. Are the people behind me okay? How will my brother get home? What would my coaches say? How would my mom react? Thankfully my brother’s boy scout leader came to my rescue and calmed me down a bit before we went to the ER. The hospital sent me home with a bunch of pain relievers but the accident kept replaying in my head for weeks. I couldn’t compete in sectionals because of this accident and I had to start physical therapy. The doctors told me that I would heal quickly and that it was just whiplash but that wasn’t the case. I had to miss so many senior activities and even my last season of softball due to the actions of careless driving.

The second accident happened recently in May of 2022. Four days before my highschool graduation. My brother and I were heading home after a night of babysitting when I noticed a Chevy Silverado was following me for a couple of blocks. When I came to a stop I was just thinking to myself how long the light was taking to change and that I couldn’t wait to go home. Then I heard my younger brother screaming next to me. We have been struck. I immediately had PTSD from the first accident. I flinged forward and shot straight back again. Naturally I began calling 911 and the guy that struck us got out of his car and asked me “ Are you okay?” and I responded with “no sir, I am having a panic attack. What were you doing?” He disregarded my question and attempted to open my car door. He told me to calm down and I didn’t know this man so I reached for my mace. That’s when he ran back to his car and sped off. I followed him to the nearby gas station and pulled in, blocking the exit. He then proceeds to pull over the curb and drives onto the expressway. I followed him for one exit as the dispatcher is yelling at me to go back to the scene so I can get help. With all of this distress my hands went numb and I started to have a panic attack while driving. Fortunately I made it back to the scene safely and went to the ER. The whole process of an accident is traumatizing. You sit in an ER for hours to make sure you’re physically okay. Then you go home and deal with the aftermath. Both of these accidents caused me to have anxiety and a fear of driving. Currently I am participating in exposure therapy to become a better driver for myself and others.

The importance of driving safely is crucial for society. No matter how many rules and regulations we have, there will always be a chance of an accident. But being self aware and treating driving as a new skill every year could change the number of crash related injuries and deaths. Once we get comfortable doing something we tend to think we are experts, but in reality we should be open minded into continuous learning. Driving courses/classes should be mandatory to take in high school or college and made affordable in underprivileged communities. Another step we can take is being more empathetic towards others. Show kindness on and off the road. Don’t cut people off and let them have their space. If we put more consideration into driving like we do texting or anything else then we can avoid careless driving. Which is the worst kind of driving.

Car accidents are called accidents for a reason. Life happens, if you hit someone, take responsibility for your actions and accept the consequences. It’s a lesson to be learned, not fought. Driving is a journey that’s everlasting and creates memories deep within all of our hearts. As a society we have to unite to create a safer atmosphere on the road for everyone regardless of age and race. Even if it’s a small act kindness it grows into more.