1 in 5 young drivers will be a victim of a road traffic accident. In a class of 30 people that's 6 people. But what is it that causes this scary statistic. Arrogance, need for speed, need to feel and look cool?
Last July i was the victim of a collision. I was riding to work on my scooter; hi-vis jacket and lights on in the rain. On the usual route that i traveled but the road surface was wet from the rain. There was a t junction that i used to go over no problem several times a day; only this day the car driver looked the way they wanted to go and put their foot down. Despite me breaking she still pulled out and hit me. I was on one side of the road and my bike on the other. My first thoughts were 'Shit her car', i didn't even stop to think about myself. She got out the car crying in shock. I stood up and went to her car; i was in shock that it had happened and was more concerned about the state of her car. She had one tiny dint in the door and the plastics on my bike were all cracked and bashed. I was so lucky that i was travelling slower due to the rain or it could have been worse.
This was my bike a week or so before the crash. My bike is bright yellow. The driver claimed she was in a rush to get to work and didn't see me. It scares me how many people have died and the people involved may have used it as a reason. Does it really hurt to stop, look and double look before pulling out of a junction?
Watching the show reduced me to tears. Hearing stories of how peoples lives have been torn apart from accidents. Either losing family members or causing the accidents themselves its something they have to live with every day. Although i walked away from my accident i still think about it every day i walk past the junction and despite me wanting to get back on my bike my mum won't let me. I never told her it happened until 2 weeks later as i knew she would react to the extreme.
In college i remember attending a huge talk on driving safety where they played a graphic video of crashes and had statements from victims of road traffic accidents. After watching this i thought it would open peoples eyes; there were 400+ people in my year at sixth form. In less than a month after the video 3 members of my year group had been in a car crash and one of the young girls didn't survive. I never knew her but it cut me up; the girl who was driving got away with a few scratches but will always be left with the scary truth that she lost one of her best friends. What make the situation more upsetting is that people were blaming her for the accident and making comments about her either behind her back or directly to her.
It makes me wonder if there really is a way to educate young people better about road safety and if there is will they really listen? When i was in college now one of the things about passing your driving test is the need to speed and show off to your friends and other people that you have new found freedom. Maybe shock tactics are needed in driving lessons to educate people and give them more awareness on the road.
I only started driving lessons last summer about 3 months after the bike crash and i had never been so scared. Every time i get in the car for a driving lesson i panic and i constantly check around me as i don't want to hurt anyone or anything. My mum hunted high and low to find me a patient driving instructor and mine was also an ex biker so he knew what is going through my mind at all times. I started to learn in manual and have now gone to automatic lessons to ease my nerves. I feel like i am letting people down but i feel safer knowing i can check around me more.
If anything from this little essay i just want people to be aware that actions change lives no matter how old or young you are. I know people who have lost family members, i lost a friend in a car crash and have been in one myself. Think and be sensible; race tracks are for racing not public roads.
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