In 2012, I had an experience in a severe motor vehicle accident. The main cause of my accident was an ex-convict who stole a police truck while he was under the influence. He had recently gotten out of jail for possession of drugs and theft five days prior. Not learning from his previous decisions, he acted in a reckless way that endangered me and my family. We were on our way to our grandparents’ house for Christmas when we saw the flashing lights of a cop truck coming at us at 75 mph. We were hit head on, and luckily we had our seatbelts on which, unbelievably, saved our lives. After this crazy accident, my mom and I were life-flighted to separate hospitals in Missouri where we underwent emergency surgery. Although the recovery process was long and hard, we were just thankful to be alive.

Motor vehicle accidents are one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. Each year, 1.35 million people are killed from roadway accidents worldwide. Nearly half of the people in vehicle accidents were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.

I’ve always wanted to write a story about my experience, and why going and having a fun night with friends and then driving home under the influence is not the right choice. You should always think of others and yourself before making the decision that could change someone else’s life in a short matter of time. Remember, you may think you’re okay to drive, but you’re not the only one on the road. Even if the trip is short, always remember to buckle up and make the right decisions while being in control of a motorized vehicle.