For My Cousin

Driving and technology are closely related. Historically, with technological advancements, the way our vehicles and roads look also change. Look at the GPS, for example. Suddenly MapQuest was obsolete. Then came the smartphone that has a built-in GPS, drastically changing how we get from points A and B. With smartphones came extreme concern for safety on the roads. Deaths caused by texting while driving increased exponentially, and new dangerous relating to driving entered the conversation. There are concerted efforts to mitigate many of the risks of driving, but how do we tackle the root of the issue? How does society dissipate knowledge and inform one another about driver education?

I can’t start to unpack this question without telling you about my cousin Jeffery. Almost 20 years ago, when he was walking home from primary school on the small island of Trinidad, where half of my family is from, Jeffery was struck by a truck speeding through a residential area. My cousin looked both ways before crossing the street, but his eleven-year-old legs were no match for a speeding vehicle that rounded the corner and seemingly came out of nowhere. Jefferey survived. However, he remained in a coma for two years and awoke at the age of thirteen, not able to walk, talk, eat, or function on his own. Jeffery is in his thirties now and never gained back any basic human functions that we take for granted. He lives in a home away from family because the stress consumed my aunt, and she was unable to care for him properly. Lives are destroyed forever by one split second of recklessness. This is why driver education matters.

For my generation, with stimulus galore, the mode of education that works is through visual depictions. I remember my high school would have an assembly every year where we reacted to a drunk driving scenario that ended with a totaled car placed right at the entrance of the senior parking lot for the remainder of the year. The car served as a reminder to think before you get behind the wheel. A reminder that our decisions will not only impact us but the lives of our friends and families.

I encourage more schools and organizations that involve youth to do the same. If we can educate society before they even make it to the road, we can make the most impact. Preventative measures are the best kind of measures.

Sadly, many of us have been either directly or indirectly impacted by reckless driving. Aside from my family, I’ve had people in my inner circle who have been victims of hit-and-runs, leaving them with absurd insurance fees and residual trauma. When I find myself unconsciously reaching for my phone or grabbing something from my purse, I immediately think of them. The pain that I’ve seen them suffer through is more than enough for me to snap myself back into reality and put my hand back on the wheel.

Driving is a huge responsibility. I think we take it for granted much of the time. It has become that thing that symbolizes adulthood and independence. Don’t get me wrong, I support this concept, but we can’t enjoy the pros of driving without thoroughly understanding the risks associated with it as well.

My little cousin Natalie was born a few years after our older cousin was in his accident. She’s never known a world where Jeffery talked, walked, and fed himself. I, myself, don’t have memories of that version of him either. All I have are photos of him holding me as a baby and playing with me. I don’t remember how he sounds, but I imagine he had the kindest voice ever heard. I’m angry that something as vital as his voice was taken from him so young. I still have anger towards the driver, anger towards the government for not holding the driver accountable, and anger towards the insurance company for making my aunt jump through hoops to receive any compensation for nearly a decade. Yes, I am angry. But anger only breeds contempt. To make real change, we must come from a place of hope. So, when my little cousin gets her license this year, this is the message I’ll have for her: I know how excited you are to have this newfound freedom; I was excited too. Just remember, you are now responsible not only for your own life but for the lives of the fellow humans around you. Think before you act. A moment of thought can save a life. I love you.