Something I learned at a young age

.....Not all adults should be trusted or listened to.

I have a memory from when I was a child (probably barely a teenager). I was in the backseat of someone's car. I saw an open container of alcohol between the driver and passenger seats. I knew the driver was a heavy drinker/pot smoker and most likely did other drugs as well. Even then, at such a young age, I knew better. The person driving the car was an adult, knew better, but didn't care (about anyone in the car – including their own children – or anyone else on the road). I said something about the alcohol, and I will always remember the bullshit response I got from the front seat passenger (also an adult and also didn't care): "He only takes sips." (Now that I think about it, he was probably already drunk/high before he got in the damn car. But kids aren't supposed to notice stuff like that, right? And they are certainly not supposed to question an ADULT'S HORRIBLE CHOICES, right?) But...

I should have said...

Tell it to the first responders.

Tell it to the mortician.

Tell it to the mother and father who have to bury their baby.

Tell it to the child lying in a casket.

Tell it to the person who no longer has use of their legs, all because they were crushed due to someone's CHOICE to drive drunk.

Tell it to the woman whose father is unable to walk her down the aisle because he is no longer alive due to the fact that some asshole chose to drive drunk.

Do you look good in orange?

Tell it to your cellmate.

I was afraid of being yelled at and them making me feel like I was in the wrong. Even though I felt extremely uncomfortable in that situation, I wasn't aware that I had every single right to say something more and keep talking about it until I knew that they knew I wasn't going to give up. I should have made them feel uncomfortable and ashamed of themselves. Well, I can't exactly go back in time and express my concerns. But I know now that I had a voice back then, and I have a voice now. I want others to know they also have a voice now.

So, if you're reading this (your age doesn't matter), if you're aware enough to think, "Hey, this is wrong," don't be afraid to say something if you realize the driver of the car you're in is drinking or drunk/high. If you have a phone with you, use it to call 911 and explain to them the driver is drinking or drunk/high. Don't second-guess yourself in a situation like that. Don't be afraid of getting the driver in trouble. What's important is the driver is putting others at risk, including you. Just because nothing happened last time, that doesn't mean it won't ever happen. Always remember, you have every right to speak up. It is, after all, your life on the line (and other people on the road too), and if it's not your actual life they take, it could be your legs or spine. Not everyone who is involved in an impaired driving crash dies. Some end up paralyzed or with some kind of brain damage or burned beyond recognition. Is that a good enough reason to care?

Don't tell me, "Well, you survived, didn't you?" That's not the point. I don't, nor did I then, appreciate the fact that someone thought their stupidity and arrogance were more important than someone else's life.

PARENTS/GUARDIANS:

If you ALLOW someone to drive drunk and/or high with your kid in the car, or if you drive drunk with your child, you are a horrible parent. You have absolutely no care, respect, or love for your child's life if you are ever WILLING to put them in harm's way. Even if you're not the one driving, or if your children are not in the vehicle with you, it always matters.

Choices Matter. 🚕🚓🚑