If Only We Could Turn Back Time

If
Only We Could Turn Back Time

By:
Alma Rodriguez Guzman

If
only we could turn back time. A mother, a wife, a sister, and a
daughter. She was this and much more. She had
her whole life ahead of her. If only we could turn back time. If only
the girl had not taken the wheel. If only she had taken those driving
classes. If only the girl had not been playing around with her
friends. If only she had known the consequences. If only she had
listened to the statistics of irresponsible driving. If
only.
A life was taken that day. A life that meant the world to so many. A
life whose time came too soon. At what cost? The cost of ignorance.
Not being educated hurts no one but those around you. What could it
have cost to take driving classes? Was it not cool enough? Did your
friend not take them, so it was suddenly justified? A mother would
still be around to see her son graduate. A sister would still be
around for the wedding. At what cost? She could have cured cancer.
She could have saved a life. She could have been the first woman in
space. She could have. If only we could turn back time.

The
youth assume that they are invincible, that nothing can stop them.
What they are not considering is that their actions may not harm them
but they may bring disastrous effects on an innocent family. The
simple act of just being informed of the statistics of car accidents
can make an immense difference. Being informed on the common laws of
the road can make a difference. Having sufficient practice can make a
difference. Being aware of all of the consequences can make a
difference. These simple actions can be the difference between a dad
going home to dinner or a son never able to tell his dad that he
loves him. When you are out on the road, anything can happen. Being
educated and informed can reduce the number of deaths from car
accidents. The car accidents that make you stop and say “If only I
could turn back time”.

The
invention of automobiles has improved the lives of so many people.
However, it has also ruined the lives of others. What some people
seem to forget is that it was not the car. It was the person at the
wheel. The minute you enter a car, those lives are all in your hands.
The weight is on your
shoulders. So many outcomes could have been different if people had
known how much damage they could do. A mother warned her daughter
about the drivers around her. The mother forgot to warn her about the
harm she could do. She could have died. She could have killed those
in the car with her. She could have done so much damage. She did do
damage. She did tear a family apart. She did bring trauma to the
children. What she did is irreversible. These accidents are not
planned, but they can be prevented. 

I
know that I can attend classes and take my time to learn to drive the
correct way. I know that there are several resources out there to
help me learn all of the laws of the road. I know that before I can
even start driving I can get informed on all of the statistics. I
know that I can save lives if only I am aware of the consequences.
This may seem obvious and insignificant, but it could have changed
lives. It can still change lives. I plan to live my life as a careful
and safe driver. For all of the mothers, fathers, daughters, and sons
in the world. Everyone deserves to have a chance to make their impact
on the world. No one deserves to die at the wheel of an ignorant
driver. No one should have to think, “If only I could turn back
time”.

You
would not want your mom to be taken from you so abruptly, would you?
You would not want your mom to be gone before you had the chance to
say goodbye. You would not want to wish that you could turn back
time. Think of the others on the road and be mindful of all of the
consequences because so much is at stake. A well-informed driver is
the only acceptable one. Educated youth are educated drivers. An
educated driver is a safe driver. With everything that is happening
in the world, the death of a loved one is not something we need.
Especially, if it could have been prevented. Instead, what we need is
to change the present way we are preparing our youth because let’s
be honest we can’t turn back time.