Don’t drink and drive. How many times in our lives have we been told this? Thousands, right? Yet people are still doing it.
On October 23rd, my brother was in a car accident. My brother was driving home from hanging out with his friends around midnight. He was only four blocks away from home when some woman blew through a stop sign and hit the car. Fortunately, no one was hurt, although my brother’s car was completely totaled. However, the 25-year-old woman got out of the car and begged for my brother to not call the cops, and being a seventeen-year-old, he was tempted not to. He has never been in an accident before and didn’t know what to do. My parents weren’t home because they were visiting me here at State College. They were also asleep in their hotel after their long drive, so they weren’t answering their phones. My brother ended up Facetiming me instead. He was hysterically crying, and he didn’t know what to do. Once I asked him, has she been drinking, he said “I think so.” I told him he should call the police because this woman could hurt more people if he let her go. As soon as I said that, I saw the blue and red lights in the background. The people who lived on the block heard the crash of the cars and reported it. My family friends got down to the scene and help my brother, so he wasn’t alone. As the cops were questioning him, they asked him if he believed the woman was drinking; he responded yes. After doing the incident report, they allowed my brother to leave because he did nothing wrong. Although they kept the woman back. We don’t know if she was arrested or what happened after.
When my brother called me and told me a drunk woman hit him, I always lost it. This woman should know drinking and driving is wrong. We have been scolded our entire life to never get behind the wheel, but she did. Her reckless behavior almost killed my brother, and I am still fuming about this. There are so many alternatives to not drinking and driving, but she chose the worst option. I am glad everyone is okay, but this doesn’t excuse the woman and this reckless act. Don’t be stupid and drive drunk, please.
Mae,
I think that your personal experience about drinking and driving really emphasizes the severity of this issue. Thinking about just this past week, a well known player in the NFL, Henry Ruggs II, was driving his car while intoxicated, reached a speed of 152 miles per hour, and crashed into an innocent young woman who sadly lost her life in the crash. Ruggs is a multi-million dollar athlete, so clearly calling a $15 Uber home would not have been a problem. It is devastating to see that individuals are still losing their lives due to drunk driving incidents, especially with the amount of preventative programs there are out there nowadays. I am glad to hear that your brother was uninjured, and am happy that he did the right thing in telling the police about the woman’s intoxication and still choosing to drive under the influence.
Mae,
As an older sister with a little brother who is about to start driving soon, this story really resonated with me.
As the oldest sibling (and I’m sure you can relate to this,) I have always felt extremely protective over my little brother. Even though he is a high schooler now, he is still the three year old version of himself in my eyes.
I cannot even imagine the emotional distress and horror experienced by your brother, yourself, and the rest of your family. I am so thankful that he is okay.
Whether for better or worse, this is a moment he will never forget and I’m sure he will carry it with him and urge his peers against ever drinking and driving.
Mae,
Drinking and driving is one of my biggest pet peeves. Like you, I have ALWAYS been told that if I happen to be in a situation with alcohol, I should NEVER drink and drive. Not only would I be putting my life at risk, but more so, the people that cross my path on my way to wherever I would be driving. This topic is very close to my heart because my cousin was killed in a car accident as a result of the driver of his car driving under the influence as well as my dad almost died due to an accident he was in involving alcohol. Because of these two experiences, I personally hate alcohol and will never consume it. (I know, I know, you probably think I am crazy.) But, after losing one person close to me and almost a second, it is a personal choice that I distance myself from alcohol as much as possible. Lastly, my boyfriend was almost in a car accident just a few months ago because a drunk driver was in the opposite driving lane. Luckily, my boyfriend was able to swerve and missed the oncoming vehicle. In fury, my boyfriend managed to pull the truck over and call the police to get this drunk driver off the road.
I get it that people want to have fun. I get it that you may enjoy consuming alcohol. That is fine. But please, for your own safety and the safety of everyone around you, do NOT get behind the wheel!
I have always told my friends that I am more than willing to come pick them up and drive them home if they have been drinking. It only takes a few minutes behind the wheel to find yourself on the other side of a courtroom as you face the parent, sister, brother, grandparent, cousin, friend, wife, etc. of a person who is grieving the human being you caused to pass as a result of your stupid actions.
Mae, I am glad your brother is okay. I couldn’t agree with you more that drunk people need to stay off the freaking road!
Mae,
I’m so sorry that your brother had to experience this terrible car accident and I’m really glad that he’s okay. I know it must have been so shocking and unexpected for a young seventeen-year-old to be met with a car accident from a drunk woman. I could only imagine how terrifying it must have been when your parents weren’t answering their phones and you were also away in State College. Thankfully, someone called the cops to address the issue and your brother was freed from any blame.
Drinking and driving continues to be a major issue across our country and leads to some of the most dangerous, but unwarranted accidents. I don’t really understand why people continue to think it’s a good idea to drink and drive, especially when there have been so many incidents and we have been educated about this year after year. I completely back your stance and urge people to choose one of the MANY alternatives to drinking and driving. It is NEVER a good idea, regardless of the consequences.