Name: Adrian Nathaniel Reyes Sarmiento
From: Bakersfield, California
Votes: 0
Making
a Positive Impact on the Road
By
Adrian
Reyes Sarmiento
A
vehicle can be a necessary tool but also a deadly weapon if not used
responsibly. As a newly permitted driver, with experience as a
passenger in a horrific car accident, I understand my
responsibilities behind the wheel. Being educated will keep me safe
and prevent me from making uneducated or irresponsible mistakes that
could affect other people’s lives.
My
family was hit by an unlicensed, uninsured, driver that ran a red
light. My mom, sisters, and I were badly injured. My little sister
was the worst with tears in her intestines and aorta. It took her
almost two months in the hospital to recover enough to come home.
Although the other driver chose to break laws and make a mistake, my
family suffered the worst consequences.
Three
years after our accident my sister’s friend was involved in a fatal
accident caused by a drunk driver. She died with her dad, her sister,
and one of her brothers. Their accident made me realize how lucky I
was to not have lost my family.
Not
all students in my drivers ed class took it as seriously as I
did. Each lesson had important information like speed limits, making
safe turns and lane changes, reading signs, and important messages
like focusing on the road, not being distracted by answering your
cellphone, text messaging or blasting the radio at the highest
volume. My instructor taught the importance of proper insurance
coverage and stressed always wearing a seatbelt.
Every
new driver, regardless of age, should be required to take driver
education and a written test to demonstrate knowledge of driving
rules and regulations. Harder punishment should be given for breaking
laws such as driving without a license or driving under the
influence. Consequences must not be severe enough if so many people
are not just making mistakes but being negligent and are sighted for
the same violations over and over again.
As a driver, I’m not only
responsible for my safety but also the safety of everyone I encounter
while driving. Taking on that responsibility means I take everything
I’ve learned with me every time I get behind the wheel. I wear my
seatbelt, concentrate on the road, don’t look at my phone, and pay
attention to the lights, stop signs, and speed limits. As a
passenger, I take responsibility to help my friends and family
members be responsible drivers too by not distracting them from the
road and taking on the task of navigating so that the driver can
focus on driving.
An
uneducated mistake, negligence of driving rules, or poor judgment and
decision making when driving a vehicle can not only change lives but
take lives. Being educated, following rules, and always using good
judgment as a driver will allow me to protect my safety, the safety
of my passengers, and the safety of everyone else on the road. I’m
just one person, but at my best, I can have a positive impact on
everyone around me!
