Cynthia Williams
My life changed because of a drunk driver!! No, Im not talking about anything visibly drastic, or horrific life changing injuries, but the mental images and the fear have remained!
It took me 10 years to save enough money to buy myself a brand new car!
Such excitement in our house, (I”m a single mother of four children), first time ever, a brand new car! Honda Odyssey, with all the trimmings! Leather interior, sun roof, 5 shuttle cd player, electric windows, the works! I paid cash!
Our car arrived on the 15th January, and never has a car been so well looked after by children! She was washed regularly, kept clean etc. On the 31st May, on our way back from buying take aways, on a very sharp corner, a drunk driver slammed into us, on the wrong side of the road! According to the police and the tow truck, he must have been doing about 160km/h!! We were travelling at 40! Thank The Lord, we all had seat belts on, and my children were all physically unhurt! I broke 3 ribs and banged up my knee quite badly!
However, my beautiful brand new car was a write off! 10 years of saving and dreaming, gone in an instant!
My car was insured, but, after waiting almost a whole year, they only paid me out R27 000.00!! What a joke?! The drunk driver of the other vehicle, died! I had to forgive him! How could I not forgive him, he was dead, I still had my life, my children and terrible, terrible nghtmares!
It took me 6 months before I could actually drive again, and 4 years later, I battle with panic attacks if I have to drive any further than 5km’s! My daughter, who is now 10, still cant drive anywhere once the sun starts setting!
Because of a drunk driver, we hardly go out anywhere!! Because of a drunk driver, I have no independance!
Please dont drink and drive! The consequences that affect other people, can sometimes be devastating for them!
DONT BE SELFISH! Allow others to live life to the fullest, without fear!!
