Wielding This Power: Driving Safety

Wielding
This Power: Driving Safety

Earning
a driver’s license is a big change for many adolescents and comes
with a lot of serious responsibility. According to the Center of
Disease Control, “crash risk is highest during the first year that
drivers are licensed”. Automobiles have the potential to cause
irreversible injury and change lives with unsettling ease. As one
begins driving alone, it is important to always remain focused.
Although it may appear unnecessary at times, it is crucial to obey
any and all traffic laws. There are several steps that can be taken
to ensure safe driving for everyone on the road. It is a good idea to
remove all distractions, such as cell phones, from the driver’s
seat area. It is also necessary to pay close attention to what is
happening around the vehicle, as unpredictable situations are common
and must be handled safely. Another way to make the roads safer is by
practising defensive driving. Even if you are following traffic laws,
driving at a safe speed, and remaining focused, you can never
guarantee that others on the road are doing the same. By paying close
attention to other drivers and their behaviors, traffic accidents
become more avoidable. Even simple mistakes can have disastrous
effects, which I have become acutely aware of from firsthand
experience.

A
few months ago, I caused a traffic accident that resulted in two
totaled cars, mine included. I was on my way to school with my
younger sister when I happened upon a familiar intersection that was
under construction. The left turn lane was closed, as it was when I
passed this construction site the day before. That prior morning,
there was a sign that read “left lane must turn left”, which I
had followed. This morning, however, I had not noticed that the signs
had changed, presumably because making that turn from the left lane
was deemed unsafe. I proceeded exactly as I did the day before, but
as soon as I began my unprotected turn, I noticed a car coming at me
in what seemed like slow motion. I had not realized that, from where
I was turning, an entire lane of oncoming cars was out of my
visibility. I was hit near the front passenger side, close to where
my sister was sitting, which spun my car into another vehicle.
Thankfully, nobody was seriously injured as a result. I was in
complete shock that the accident happened, as I was in no way
distracted or anything but completely focused on my driving. I was
absolutely shaken because my sister was only moments away from being
seriously injured or worse. This incident made it clear to me that in
confusing areas, such as construction sites, it is always best to err
on the side of caution and continue to the next intersection. At that
point, I truly understood that even the simplest mistakes can cause
irrevocable damage, and that it is important to know the power that
driving possesses.