Health behind the wheel

    “All I heard was a huge crash and I heard glass break. I immediately began to scream and cry. I almost hit another car because I let go of the steering wheel and closed my eyes because I was so scared,” said senior Mary Bermingham who was involved in an automobile accident in October of 2007.


    When people talk about the most efficient cars, they focus more on miles per gallon and safety. It is true that most cars come with the basic safety features but some cars are safer than others. The Acura RDX, for example, was ranked number one on the AOL Auto Top 11 Safest Cars.


    From bumper to bumper, cars are better equipped to insure the safety of the driver and passengers than ever before. Airbags, seat belts and anti-lock breaks prevent further injury during an accident. “My air bags didn’t deploy but my car is a Volvo so it is one of the safest cars you can drive. We were all wearing seat belts so that really helped us,” said Bermingham, of her accident. Unfortunately, these safety features can only protect passengers during an accident and not prevent accidents.


    Drivers and passengers are the only thing responsible for preventing an accident while driving. Distractions, drugs and alcohol use can greatly increase the probability of being in an automobile accident.


    “[Drinking and driving is] sad and devastating because lives are precious,” said senior Ogai Haigardari
With Prom, graduation and summer on the way, there is a greater awareness in the faculty and community of the dangers and responsibilities students have when they start their engines.


    Students often feel as though drinking and driving is the only option. “There’s no ride at three or four in the morning and we don’t have money for a taxi,” said junior Jose Quiroz.


    In an effort to teach students their options and responsibility of their actions, AHS recently invited the Save A Life Campaign to Annandale to teach students the importance of not drinking and driving. The event held May 6 during the R5 flex gave students an opportunity to learn more about the effects of drinking and driving.


    The campaign included video stories of individuals whose lives had been forever changed by the effect of drinking and driving. The guest speaker at the event shared his own personal story of a friend he watched die when he was hit by a drunk driver and thrown from his motorcycle.


    The campaign also included a simulation of driving a car while under the influence to prove the difficulty and risk involved. All seniors were given a pass from class to participate in the simulation sometime during the day.      


    Junior Guillermo Rivera said, “I’ve been with someone who was drunk driving. I was kind of scared. I trusted him. I didn’t have money or a cell phone to call someone or know what bus to ride. I think it’s a bad thing.”


    Drugs and alcohol aren’t the only hazards drivers face while on the road. Cell phones, food, music, and directions can take a driver’s focus from the road.


    Using a hand free head set or waiting until the vehicle is stopped to make a phone call or send a text message keeps one’s attention on the road ahead.


    Eating, drinking and smoking while driving also takes drivers’ attention off the road and limits the movement of the driver.    


    Music and dancing can also cause distractions. Although it seems impossible to drive with out singing along to the new Lil’ Wayne song, drivers need to remember to keep their focus on the road and only change stations when the vehicle is stopped.


    Reading directions can make driving more difficult as well. To prevent that added distraction one can follow someone who knows where he or she is going, travel with another passenger who can read the directions to them, or make the directions as simple as possible and read them before hitting the road.
    “I have changed my driving a lot since the accident. I always go to the lights and I don’t really take short cuts anymore. I also never ever take lefts when there are no lights,“ said Bermingham.


    The maintenance of the vehicle in which individuals are driving is also a factor in preventing an accident. Checking breaks, lights, and mirrors regularly can reduce the risk of accidents.


    Also, keeping loose objects in the car can cause an accident or make an accident worse. Loose objects can roll around a car and limit a driver’s movement by wedging underneath the brake pedal or accelerator. If a driver is in an accident, loose objects can be projected around the car and potentially hit passengers.


    Statistics show that teens have a much higher risk of being involved in a car accident than adults and elderly drivers. The risk is even higher in first year drivers. In the US, over 5,000 teens die in car accidents in a year and over 400,000 are injured, according to car-accident.com. Each teen driver has the opportunity to change the horrific number of teen accidents when he or she turns on the ignition.


    “My advice to new drivers would be to slow down and really make sure the road is clear before you turn. Take your time. Use the lights, they help a lot,” said Bermingham.

Additional reporting by Beelan Yonas