For most of us here at Mount de Sales, we’re novice
drivers. We’ve been through all the necessary programs and know the rules of
the road, but we’re still new to the driver’s seat. However, some may feel confident enough while
driving that we’re willing to take risks, such as surpassing the speed limit or
giving too many friends a ride. For many
rookie drivers, we know the precautions of driving, but we still have the
temptation for just peeking at a new text, searching for a new radio station,
or another activity that appears seemingly harmless.
“When in driver’s ed., it’s really easy to decide that
you’re just never going to text because it’s dangerous and you’re smarter than
that,” stated junior and newly licensed driver Abby Tanner.* “Unfortunately,
it’s a lot different when you’re actually driving. It’s really tempting to just check when you
hear your phone buzz or try to send a quick text at a red light.”
Sailors, let’s be honest.
On your way to school, how many of you applied on your favorite shade of
lip gloss, took a quick glance at a text, or simply finished eating your
breakfast? But, what’s the big
deal? It’s just a few seconds not
watching the road; nothing can happen.
However, those few seconds can be the difference between life and death
for drivers. According to the Allstate Foundation, 80% percent of all crashes
involve driver inattention within three seconds of the collision, which is only
about half the time most people take to read one text message. Is one text really worth risking your life or
someone else’s?
Car accidents are the number one cause of death among
teens, 34% of which are due to speeding.
The Allstate Foundation cites that texting and driving increases the
risk of collision by 23 times. More than
3,000 teens die per year because of automobile crashes; that’s an average of
ten teenagers a day. The statistics are
startling. Still, no matter how many
times we hear about driving safety from school, driver’s ed., our parents, or
even the news, we may not realize the importance of safe driving until we’re
personally touched by a tragedy.
Even without texting, which 49% of teens claim as the
biggest driving distraction, a fatal crash can occur by simply exceeding the
speed limit. That’s what happened to my
cousin Kate* and four of her friends. A
few years ago, Kate, then only 16, and her friends decided to take a late night
joy ride to an area notorious for twisting roads and sharp turns. The motorist
of the car was speeding and crashed into a tree, wrapping the vehicle around
its trunk. While Kate and another
passenger in the car survived with only some bruises, the operator of the
vehicle was critically injured and the two other passengers died on impact. Kate witnessed two of her friends die; one
sat directly next to her. Neither of the
boys who died was wearing seatbelts, the only thing that saved the three
others. This incident could have been
prevented by such simple means. Driving
at a lower speed, wearing a seatbelt, limiting the number of passengers in the
car, concentrating on driving rather than on friends, and avoiding dangerous
areas could have saved these two precious lives.
Although Kate was not seriously injured, her life was
forever changed on that dark night. She
lost two of her friends and, arguably, three since one would suffer the culpability
of his two friends’ deaths and the legal and emotional consequences. Seeing Kate about a month later at the mall,
I noticed a change in her demeanor. She
was not her normally cool and carefree self; she was quiet and nervous when
speaking about the incident. She knew
that she was lucky to be alive and was grateful for a second chance.
Now as a driver, I often think about Kate and her
friends, who in some ways believed they were invincible. I realize the importance of focusing on the
road and respecting the speed limit. Moreover,
I also understand the risk a passenger takes.
When you choose to climb into the passenger’s seat, you give complete
control to the driver. I now know the
importance of evaluating the person behind the wheel: do I trust him or her to
drive cautiously? Can I rely on him with
the value of my life and those around me?
But most of all, I remember the fear I had when hearing
about Kate’s accident. The memory of my
family’s worry still remains with me.
Watching the two boys’ candlelight vigil on the news and seeing their
parents, friends, and family in tears was truly unbearable.
I hope that you too have changed in some way by hearing
Kate’s story. Maybe, this change is not
eating or drinking in the car or keeping your phone off to avoid
distraction. Perhaps the adjustment is
deciding to decline the invitation for a ride from an inexperienced driver. In whatever way this affects you, remember
that your decisions not only impact yourself, but everyone else on the road as
well. Know that your choices have
consequences that will remain with you forever.
Make wise and careful decisions not only for your wellbeing, but also
for everyone else’s. Don’t make your
family suffer like the millions that have because of your carelessness while in
the passenger’s or driver’s seat. Don’t
allow the opportunity for one mistake to ruin your entire life or the life of
another.
For more information on driving safety, visit www.KeeptheDrive.com, a website dedicated
to the safety of all teen drivers.
*Names changed to protect the privacy of the individuals
By Victoria Tully
