A few days ago, I was driving in my neighborhood with my little sister in the passenger seat. We were on our way to go shopping for some things I needed for my apartment. Driving the speed limit and having both eyes on the road, I thought I was driving safely. I then became blinded by the sun. I figured my eyes would adjust quickly, but they did not adjust fast enough. Seemingly out of nowhere, I drove right into a parked car that I did not even see.
It was like driving into an invisible wall. Immediately, I looked to my crying sister to see if she was okay, and luckily we both walked away with minor scratches and bruises thanks to the airbags and seat belts. The car, however, is totaled.
While my sister and I walked away practically uninjured, I couldn't help but to think about how easily this situation could have been worse. I could have hit a pedestrian crossing the street, or the parked car that I hit could have had a passenger in it. By taking a look at my totaled car, it is hard to believe that no one was injured. The whole thing could have been a lot worse.
Now, here's the scary part: I thought I was driving safely. This accident was not due to texting and driving, speeding, drunk driving, or even just being distracted by the radio or having a conversation. This accident was caused by my momentary blindness due to the sun. I had both hands on the wheel, going the speed limit with my eyes on the road, and yet I still ran into a parked car.
The point I am trying to make is this: driving is dangerous. There are so many things that can go wrong, yet we often get so comfortable with driving that we forget to be cautious.
Please, take my advice and drive safe. Put the phone down, don't speed (or at least keep the speeding to a minimum), and if the sun blinds you, try to slow down and pull over if possible until your eyes adjust. Wear your seat belts always and be aware of your surroundings. An accident can happen at any time, even in your own neighborhood.
I hope that everyone realizes that by driving unsafely, you not only put yourself in danger but also any passenger in your car and other people on the road. After my car accident, I could not look at my little sister without crying because of the thought that she could have been really hurt, and it would have been my fault.
I pray that you never have to experience the guilt of causing an accident that could have hurt someone as special as a little sister.