It Only Takes a Second

It
Only Takes a Second

Jacob—
he was not only my cousin, but my best friend. We grew up together
and never left each other’s side. We had sleepovers often, but on
this night he never made it to my house:

I
waited… and waited. I texted him with no response. My first
instinct was that he was taking a nap or something; I mean, who would
even think to assume the worst has happened? My mom had to finally
break the news to me: he was hit by a drunk driver.

All
I could think about at that very moment was how one person could be
so selfish as to take control of a vehicle under the influence,
thereby putting everyone around him or her in danger and taking away
my innocent best friend. He didn’t deserve it, and it’s simply
not fair how good people are punished for others’ improvident
actions.

I
know me recounting Jacob’s story will not cease distracting driving
from occurring completely, which is why Drivers ed systems
must implement these warnings as a major component within their
lessons. Rather than making students fall asleep through hours of
useless videos on “what to do at a stop sign” or “how to avoid
hitting a deer,” the classes must engage students in lessons
instead of constant lectures, to the point where they actually want
to learn how to be safe drivers.

Families
should also be providing their children with knowledge on how to be
attentive on the road. Rather than frightening kids into avoiding
confrontation, parents must be open to the fact that their kids are
growing up in an ever changing world and experimenting with life.
Guardians must be aware of such development and open with their
teenagers; they must offer their help when needed, which can prevent
teens from taking any desperate measures that may end someone’s—
or even their own— lives.

With
such actions, millions of people in the world can be saved from
reckless driving. People must start taking distracting driving
seriously. It isn’t a joke. Yeah, not every single person who texts
and drives will get into an accident, but it only takes one time for
it to happen. I constantly have to tell my friends to put their
phones away, always offering to send their messages for them or even
drive their cars when they cannot physically do it themselves.

I
would do anything to have one last sleepover with Jacob, and I know
that I’m not the only one who has been through such a traumatic
experience, because unfortunately, these accidents occur often—
daily, in fact. The thing is, if we all
do our parts, we can avoid circumstances like Jacob’s. However, if
we’re not totally in this together, then people will always be at
risk.

Do
your part. This isn’t a movie— real lives are at stake.