Don’t Let Yourself Become a Statistic

The
idea of becoming a statistic is utterly terrifying. Giving up one’s
family, accomplishments, any fragment of success or opportunity, it
can be gone in a matter of seconds. Yet, when a new driver is finally
given that romanticized freedom, the importance of safety
unfortunately becomes an afterthought. Driving, although considered a
necessity, is in fact a privilege. What can be an effective mode of
transportation also has the potential to take one’s life with ease,
especially among young or inexperienced drivers. For me, the concept
of severe car accidents is nothing new to my family, and has brought
upon pain that can never be forgotten. It is truly essential to
realize the immense amount of responsibility that must come with
driving to protect not only yourself, but the drivers you share the
road with as well.

To
be a safe driver on the road, as well as lower the chances of being
in a car accident, one must realize how important the idea of self
accountability is when driving. Keeping a handbook or knowing all of
the rules of the road, while essential, proves to be useless if not
put into practice. Self accountability when driving is being willing
to stop at the limit line, being willing to check your mirrors and
blindspots when changing lanes, being willing to take that extra step
to prevent changing your life forever. A lack of the aforementioned
self accountability on the road proves to be where reckless driving
stems from. Knowing the rules of the road and putting them into
practice are two completely different things. A knowledgeable driver
is not always a safe driver.

I
have had my driver’s license as of July of last year. Although I
adore the sense of freedom and maturity it has brought me, I often
keep in mind the risks I take every time I am on the road. In
particular during my drive to school. Everyday on my way to school I
must take an intersection that almost took my sister’s life four
years ago. Having had her brand new car for no more than a week at
the time, due to my sister failing to look both ways at a stop sign
she faced a serious collision with a truck that totalled her car.
Losing my sister is an unfathomable idea. I am thankful everyday that
she only had minor injuries, but due to her inattentiveness being
such a young driver she lost her first car after a week. Whenever I
pass this intersection I remember to always have a sense of self
accountability when driving to protect myself as well as other
drivers on the road.

Being
a statistic means giving up everything imaginable, becoming another
headline in the newspaper about a teen driver. Not every car accident
can be prevented, but many can be avoided by holding oneself
accountable as a safe driver. Knowing the rules of the road is
essential, but putting them into practice means the difference
between a reckless driver and a safe one. To take that extra step of
accountability, it can mean everything when driving.