I Can Not Take a Life

I
Can Not Take a Life

The
wind whips through my hair as I jam with my friends to the newest
hits on the radio. Life is carefree and full of laughter because this
is the best summer of your life. I just finished my senior year of
high school! As I pull off to my exit to take us home, I see lights
flashing and a turned over car in the ditch of the highway. Another
accident… It’s not uncommon around this time of year. Our small
town is finally lively after six months of winter. People forget to
drive the speed limits or sober or… Common sense flies out the
window when the temperature goes over eighty here, and everyone knows
where to slow done as the local police all have their favorite spots
time after time again. That night I was in my car alone humming an
earlier tune when I reached for the volume dial. Fear and adrenaline
seemed to have thrust my heart out the window when a deer tried to
cross the road in front of my car. I
almost killed a deer. Oh my god, I almost went off the road. I
got home in a bucket of tears because I reflected how many times I
reached for things in my car, I was talking obnoxiously distracted,
friends showed me things, or I was daydreaming trying to escape my
stressful day at school. Never had I personally been in an accident,
but I knew many friends who have. Some evening passing even when they
weren’t in the wrong.

From
that event, I consciously realized I could never hurt a living thing.
Crying out loud I’m a vegetarian for goodness sake. I was never a
bad driver or made bad decisions, such as texting and driving, but no
one perfect. I have seen myself take stupid actions then catching
myself. It only takes one second.
Going back to my five hour crouse, I
remember a teen didn’t put his seat belt on, and his mom was killed
by his body hitting her seat due to a collision. Watching that tape
broke my heart just like almost hurting that poor Bambi. Now I’ve
reinforced my habits from when I first started to drive on everyone.
No loud music. No phones. No looking at the console. No distracted
talking. No one touching me. No one messing around. No more inaction.
Drivers ed needs to be mandatory for everyone and encouraged to
be repeated over a lifetime because people forgot how much power is
in their vehicles and misjudgments. Look around constantly for
people, animals, and debris. Defensive driving is key. Plan for the
worse, someone cutting you off, so you can avoid it along the way,
slowing down to avoid hitting their bumper sticker. Stay calm. The
guys of my life always like to talk about the thrill in revving an
engine or testing the limits. I like to tell them that I’ll take
them on many adventures for that thrill if they promise to make it
back home safely each night otherwise I may never see them just
smiling calmly one day. Pay attention to your signage, and never fill
pressured to drive somewhere new if you’re uncomfortable. My
friends know I don’t like driving much, so they never pressure me
too. Never mentally push yourself, and always praise the small steps.
It took me about three days before I wanted to drive after being
acred by the deer. Knowing where you’re going can help you get
home. I’ll never get too comfortable in the driver’s seat again
because I can not take a life and it only takes one-second to due so
behind a wheel. I’m humbled and thankful for all the life I share
the road with, so please be mindful, too, of the risk you take
endangering the lives of others while driving.