What does it have to take for change to be made?

On Feb. 3, three people were involved in a car crash while making a left turn on FM 423 in west Frisco when the yellow arrow was flashing. All three of them died.

These three people left behind a world made for them far too soon, and it’s time that we started realizing the danger to our lives due to something as simple as a left turn.

There have been debates going on about these traffic lights since the year 2015 on multiple forums and for good reason too. 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 36 percent of collisions occur at intersections with most of them being left turns. 

Moving from California to Texas, these blinking left turns were new to us and I was skeptical from the beginning. I’ve always been cautious when it comes to the open road. There are so many stories, tragedies out in the world. They serve as lessons to be safe and as reminders to understand the risk that’s attached to driving. 

What’s ironic is that these yellow arrows were installed in order to make driving safer and efficient. That’s why there are so many. I mean, there’s a yellow monster everywhere I look. And there are devastations to go along with every single one of those monsters.

What I can’t wrap my finger around is the fact that even after years of protesting from many people, even after multiple deaths and accidents, even after this instilled fear present in so many people, nothing has changed. 

Years ago when Frisco wasn’t as populated as it is now, this blinking yellow light helped to limit traffic and was very practical. But times are changing, and our roads need to change along with them. It’s not practical anymore with the number of cars that constantly flood the streets daily.

In addition, the increase in traffic has led to an escalation of impatience in drivers. If one isn’t able to judge whether it’s safe or not to drive during the blinking yellow light, it’s better to stay back and wait. But nowadays, many people take advantage of their horns, urging drivers to floor the lights, pressurizing them to take the unwanted risk. All it takes is a little bit of endurance and composure while on the road. 

But even still, the Texas Department of Transportation is planning on replacing our normal green lights with this sad excuse for a traffic light. 

But not only has this increased my fear of driving, it’s also made me rethink my values and to appreciate what I have. 

I think if anything, we’re all left with an aftermath of shock. There’s not a day that goes by when I’m not reminded of the families that lost their loved ones as my mom steers the wheel left on my way back home from school. 

I hear myself telling my parents to just wait the light out more often. 

I feel butterflies in my stomach more often. 

I tell myself that it’s okay more often. 

I’m scared more often.

With that being said, things need to change. Until they do, we can do our part by thinking before we make hasty decisions while in the driver’s seat. 

We can’t afford to lose anyone anymore.