Accidents are the fourth leading cause of death in the United States according to MedicalNewsToday.com. From one who has been in a car accident, I know the stress and depression that hits you when you crash your car. For me, I crashed my very first car, whom I named "Ruby" a little over a year ago, the night before my high school graduation. I was on my way to my job orientation, which was less than 10 minutes away from my home. I was on a main road which I had traveled on a thousand times before, but this time was different.
In front of me was a black sedan who had the right turn signal on to pull into a neighborhood. So, I waited to continue driving until she fully made the turn. I kept a safe distance from her car, but instead of making a full turn onto the side road, she decided to quickly make a K-Turn on the wide road and come out onto the main road, cutting me off. Ultimately she flung my sedan on to the other side of the road, fortunately, there was no oncoming traffic. However, I was now blocking a major intersection. As the police officer arrived at the scene, the woman switched her right turn signal to a left turn signal to try to justify her mistake, trying to put the blame on me.
Thankfully, the damage was fixable but the level of emotions I felt is indescribable. The moral of this story will be told through the several bullet points I've provided. By knowing these points, I hope to make all of you aware of the dangers of driving, and to be a more defensive driver.
1. Accidents happen.
I'm a believer in that everything happens for a reason. Did this happen to me to make me a more defensive driver? I believe so, in addition to anticipating driver's actions, and being prepared to react.
2. Be alert at all times.
Don't take anything for granted, cars pop up out of nowhere. Also don't be too comfortable and relaxed while driving. Again, drive defensively. Check your mirrors occasionally.
3. Just because the light turns green, don’t go immediately.
My mom constantly reminds me of this, not in a bad way, but to keep me safe. She always says "if someone runs a red light and you start to go as soon as the light turns, you'll wind up getting hit." So now every time the light changes, I wait a second or two before proceeding.
4. Most accidents happen within a 5 mile radius of your home.
This is true because driving on the roads that lead you home have become a force of habit, you aren't paying as much attention as you should. You are relaxed and your guard is down. It's crucial that you pay attention at all times!
5. Cars are weapons.
Yes, they are very essential in people's everyday lives, but cars can kill people as well. It is vital we treat our vehicles properly and do not misuse them for any reason.
6. Texting and driving is DANGEROUS.
To clarify, I was not texting and driving. I am simply stating a very crucial point. Get your head out of your APP!