Helping to Curve the Problem

Driving is something that everyone always looks forward to. We grow up being driven around and we yearn for the freedom that driving gives us, yet we take this huge responsibility very lightly. When we were kids, driving seemed easy. You just hold the wheel and push the pedals, but as we grow up and learn how to drive, we understand that there is more to it. It’s not just about getting to where you want or need to be faster, it’s about safety. When you get behind the wheel of a car, you are accepting the responsibility of being aware and being cautious of the other drivers on the road and the pedestrians around you. Stressing these points in Driver’s Education is very important, because when a new driver is well prepared for some “unexpected” situations, then they can be a safer driver. They can react quickly which can limit the harmful effects that are often seen after an incident on the road.

The number of deaths related to driving is alarming. In 2012, there were about 35,000 deaths related to driving. As a teenager, I know many people who were affected by a death involving driving. This type of death can be gruesome and it can change how the people in the community affected see driving. Further education on how to control yourself or your vehicle in these unexpected times could help curve these horrible occurrences that are far too common.

I myself have been in an accident that has had lasting effects on those involved. Before Christmas in 2022, I was being driven home by a friend who was arguing with their brother who was sitting in the back seat. Because they were distracted, my friend began to run a red light until I called out to bring it to their attention. My friend hit the tail end of a car that was going through their green light and we were instantly afraid. While we were safe, we were shaken up very much. We shed tears and were scared obviously. We were in a car with an 18- year- old and three 17-year-olds who were distracted and would now have to face the consequences of that distraction. We pulled off the road and as my friend who was driving broke down into tears, I spoke to the driver that was hit. The driver was an adult and was very kind to us and helped me understand what we needed to do. We never knew what to do before this woman who we had hit was kind enough to tell us.

After this accident, I’ve never seen driving the same way. I am always aware of when lights will change from green to yellow, then from yellow to red. It only takes a split second of being distracted to cause major issues. I do not take my eyes off of stoplights until I know it is clear to go. I look 4 or 5 times when I am at a stop sign. I constantly tell my friends who are driving when they will need to stop if it is soon. I live in anxiety now when I drive. I go out of my way to avoid that intersection at which the accident happened and so does my friend. While we made it out completely safe, we live with the consequences of this major mistake.

When I was younger, my aunt got into a severe car accident after not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign. She was hit on the driver’s side of her car, which left her trapped in her car. The jaws of life were needed before she could get out of the car. Miraculously, she had minor injuries and made a full recovery, but if she would have just stopped at the stop sign, none of this would have happened. Likewise, if the person in the car that hit her was paying more attention to their surroundings, the accident would not have happened.

It is seen as inevitable for accidents to happen on the road, as concerning as that may be. People expect that they will get in at least one accident in their lives. But it doesn’t have to be this way. With education on how to be a safer driver, these can be controlled. The number of deaths caused by driving can decrease significantly. This is an easy fix, but it is one that can and will save lives when it comes down to it. For me personally, I know that I always come to complete stops, take turns slower, constantly scan my surroundings, and I pay attention no matter what kind of day I have had. This is how I can ensure that I am not adding to the problem, but helping to curve it!