Rule #1: Keep your eyes on the road.
Rule #2: Yield to pedestrians.
Rule #3: SLOW DOWN!!

I can’t seem to stress the last rule good enough! Does anyone understand the meaning of “drive safe”? I don’t understand why someone would want to put the lives of other people, especially myself, at risk. When a car zooms right by me, I tell myself reasons why they are in a hurry. “He’s late for an appointment. She needs to use the restroom. There’s an emergency at home.” Whatever the reason may be, it doesn’t justify you to drive 80 miles per hour in a 65 miles per hour speed zone. My aunt used to say, “Oh! He’s in a rush to die.” If you are already late for an appointment, class, or work, expect to be late! Don’t test time by speeding down the highway. Here is a reality check for you-- you aren’t Superman!

Another pet peeve of mine is talking on the phone while driving. I don’t care who is on the phone. Pay attention to the road and not your phone. I can admit I can be guilty for talking on the phone. I’m talking to my friend in Iraq and he can’t call me back. But at least I have the decency to pull over to the slow lane so people can pass me by. If it’s really important, I’ll pull over to the side of the road. I hate driving while talking on the phone. If I see a person talking on the phone and driving fast, I cross my fingers hoping he or she will get in a car accident. Yes, I know I’m cruel. Sometimes people need to learn the hard way.

Imagine being in a city where everyone around you drives really fast because they are always in a rush. They will honk at you for no apparent reason or honk at you to get out of their way. If you are a pedestrian, don’t bother getting in the way of a driver, because he will not stop for you. He is not hesitant to run you over! For your information, this isn’t an imaginary place, it is New York city.

I experienced a life threatening moment on a New York bridge. We were close to exiting off the bridge when the car in front of us suddenly stops. If you didn’t know, it’s illegal to stop for any reason on their bridges. The driver in front of us had suddenly changed her mind and decided to take a different exit off the bridge. Our car comes to a complete stop on the bridge to avoid rear-ending her and our car engine dies. The car won’t start and we are stuck in the middle of the bridge. Knowing how fast everyone drives in the city, I grasp at the sides of my seat, looking for my something to grab my hands on to. I expect to get rear-ended and I expect the air bags to pop out. My heart beats rapidly. Looking at my side view mirror, cars behind us are able to switch lanes last minute. Drivers are honking at us. Luckily, the car engine starts again. We pass by the driver in front of us who had caused us to suddenly break, and she gets a middle finger pointed at her from my aunt.

I will never forget that moment. A small little mistake from the driver in front of us had put my life in danger. I wish something would have happened to her. Sometimes I wish I really did get rear-ended so she could get rear-ended as well. But all I can tell myself was “It’s good to be alive.”

Another car incident that haunts me to this day occurred while I was at work. I decided to stop what I was working on to ring up a customer. As I walked away, a car had driven inside our store. I had realized that if I didn’t walk away at that moment, or if I didn’t decide to ring up that customer, I could have been the tragedy for that day. When I later looked at pictures of where the car was inside my store, I imagine how I would have died. If I didn’t decide to move for that one second, that car would have smashed my body against an aisle. I’m glad no one was hurt that day. I’m glad to be alive. It frustrates me because the driver didn’t know what happened. SHE JUST DIDN’T KNOW! It makes me mad. I wish I had my revenge. But I’m stuck with the thought that no matter how careful I am while driving, there is always someone, just someone out there who isn’t paying attention.

Let this be a reminder to you, "as you drive, please be considerate of others around you." You never know the effect you have as a driver. So once again, please “drive safe.”