Realizing our effect on each other from our driver’s seats

The last few weeks have been the most stressful of my life. About a week and a half ago, I got… The last few weeks have been the most stressful of my life. About a week and a half ago, I got into a car accident in my parents’ car. The damage to my parents’ car was pretty severe. The front bumper fell off, the grill was smashed and the hood was bent from the impact. The other driver’s car didn’t sustain as much damage, but I did notice a slight GMC imprint on the back bumper, caused by my car.

After this accident, I then decided to drive more carefully. I obeyed all traffic signs and slowed to a stop at every yellow light. I was the perfect driver. I soon realized that the perfect driver is not readily tolerated in Pittsburgh.

For example, I was traveling westbound on I-376, going two miles above the speed limit. As I was driving, I was subjected to honks, dirty looks and a few middle fingers. I couldn’t understand why I was being harassed when I was simply following the rules. I ignored the mean gestures and the unheard profanities from behind drivers’ windows and forged on with a more careful approach to driving.

After driving more cautiously for about a week, I got into my second car accident. I would just like to say right now that this accident was not my fault. I was coming out of an alley, and there were no cars coming on either side. Still feeling a bit timid from my first accident, and not being able to get a clear view because of a van obscuring my vision, I decided to get a better look. As I stopped my car to take another peek, a car, speeding up the street, hit my car.

I was in total shock. As I got out of my car, or should I say my boyfriend’s car, to survey the damage, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Like the first car accident, the front bumper fell off, the grill was smashed and the hood was bent from the impact. Unlike the first car accident, the car wouldn’t start, it was leaking fluid and I couldn’t get the keys out of the ignition.

Although my boyfriend’s car was totaled, the other driver’s car went virtually unscathed. Her car’s headlight was smashed and the side of her car had a few scratches, but it didn’t even compare to the damage that my boyfriend’s car had endured.

Right after the second car accident, I remained in a constant state of disbelief. Not only did this accident occur while I was adamantly adhering to driving safely, but it was my second car accident in two weeks.

Although these crashes have been emotionally and financially draining, they were real eye-openers. After following up on this topic, I found that most personal injuries are because of car accidents. According to www.car-accidents.net, a majority of car accidents are because of sheer carelessness on the part of the driver. A staggering 81 percent of car accidents are simply because of the driver talking with other passengers.

What some people, including myself, fail to realize is that no matter how safe you think you’re driving, sometimes other drivers are not driving as cautiously as they should. In my first accident, sure, I should have been paying more attention, but I corrected my error and still got into a car accident.

We should all realize that driving isn’t just a privilege, it’s a responsibility. People’s lives are in our hands everyday. We don’t even realize the effect we could possibly have on each other from our driver’s seats.

After these two car accidents, I’ve certainly walked away with more than a higher insurance rate and a slight case of whiplash. I’ve learned that driving is something we should take seriously and not discount its importance just because it’s an everyday occurrence. I know that as soon as my parents lift their revocation of my driving privileges, I’m going to be a lot more cautious, not only of my own driving, but of others’ as well.

Jennifer has recently been enjoying the wonderful rides that PAT buses provide. E-mail her your driving record at mjk18@pitt.edu.