A Story To Never Forget

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a dim glow over the town, Caleb found himself hungry after a long day of work. He decided to pull into a local restaurant known for its delicious burgers. The aroma of sizzling patties greeted him as he stepped inside and placed his order.

“I know I shouldn’t be driving at night, but I’m starving,” Caleb thought to himself, aware of the potential risks. His home was only a mere 15 minutes away, tempting him to believe he could make it back before it got too dark. With his fresh burger, Caleb got into his car and embarked on his journey home, determined to beat the darkness. As he drove, he began eating while raindrops fell, worsening his visibility. His phone buzzed with a message, and he glanced briefly while waiting at a red light. “Where are you?” the text read. The light changed to green, urging him to continue his journey.

Navigating the dark roads, Caleb approached a yield sign, but the car in front of him was taking its time. “Come on, I need to get home before 11:00 p.m.,” he thought to himself. Impatient and hungry, he drove right through the yield sign on his turn, entering a long, dimly lit two-way street lined with houses.

Looking at the dashboard clock, the time displayed 10:55 p.m., urging him to speed up. Convinced he could still make it home in time, he edged closer to the driver ahead, contemplating overtaking the slow vehicle. Amidst his decision to overtake the driver, Caleb’s phone vibrated once more, momentarily distracting him. Immediately looking back up, he noticed the driver ahead abruptly slowing down, preparing for a right-hand turn. Panic surged through Caleb as he gripped the steering wheel and pressed the brakes. Caleb braced for impact as his mind filled with regret and the realization that a mere glance could lead to life-changing consequences.

Unfortunately, this story was about me! I was 17 years old when this happened, and since then I have changed a lot about what I do when driving. This experience taught me a valuable lesson early in my life. Driver safety is no joke, and once you realize you are the sole operator of a two-ton metal beast at high speeds, you begin to put things in perspective. Your driving skills are responsible for the lives of yourself and the family of three driving in front of you on the highway. Let’s dig deeper into the mistakes I made as a driver and what I could have improved on.

My first mistake was not putting on a seatbelt. After getting my food, I was in such a rush to get home that buckling up never crossed my mind! According to the CDC, in 2019, half of all teen crashes were unrestrained. When driving, always put on your seatbelt. It sounds simple, but it is easy to forget without habit.

My next mistake was eating while driving. After this, I learned quickly that there is no such thing as multitasking. Either your attention is on driving or eating, and it should be on driving. No matter how hungry you may be, if you need to eat, pull over. It ensures your safety and the safety of others.

Next, no matter how sure you are of a yield sign, always double check. Although nothing bad happened here, yield signs are meant for you to slow down or stop if needed. Like the saying “look twice before you cross,” you should do the same at a yield sign.

Under no circumstances should you follow a vehicle closely! Always keep a safe distance, following the three thousand rule.” This means you should be able to say one thousand, two thousand, and three thousand before passing the object the vehicle in front of you has passed. In my story, I neglected the appropriate following distance in an attempt to rush the vehicle in front of me. This will never end well and will not encourage the driver to speed up.

Finally, my last mistake, which has been repeated throughout the story, was checking my phone. As a tech-enabled society, we are almost addicted to our phones, to the point where it sometimes puts us in potential danger, especially while driving. The vibration from the phone distracted me for half a second, yet caused me to crash into a vehicle in front of me. Those split-second distractions may feel like a quick glance, but when you are traveling at high speeds, the distance your car travels is substantial. Put your phones away while driving. Your decision affects not only you but others around you.

As I am approaching 19 years old, the accident still feels like yesterday to me. I have learned to always put on my seatbelt, follow the appropriate distance, and put away my phone. Furthermore, the education I received by taking a driver’s defensive course taught me how to be a much better and safer driver. The aftermath of losing a car, paying higher insurance, and being scared to drive again taught me even more valuable lessons. Through my mistakes I hope you learn that driving is a privilege, not a right and that your decisions can impact your life and others!