Ndene Carvalho was a victim of an unfortunate car crash on the fateful night of October 7, 2021. He was a 16-year-old boy who was learning how to drive and who got excited about this new “lucrative” job at a restaurant — in which he was touting and excited about gaining his first large tip, $50. It was the gem of his night when he received that sum, and he looked forward to many more nights like those.

On October 7, after a shift that ended in the evening, Ndene was walking home. It was raining terribly that day, so driving visibility was heavily limited. Upon crossing the street, in the dark of the night, in the thundering rain, a truck collided with him. He passed away by the time he got to the hospital.

When it comes to driving awareness, it is crucial for even the most seasoned of drivers out there to be more diligent around pedestrian areas, especially at night and during murky weather. If there ever were any best moments to implement this courtesy and practice, it would be during these specific times, when it is most advised to take great caution.

The driver should ensure that the necessary vehicle lights are fully functional for max, untainted visibility for the times when sight is hindered or limited. It is also potentially life-saving and good driving etiquette for the driver to make sure that there are absolutely no pedestrians on the road before driving forward with confidence. During these high-risk circumstances, take the extra time to ensure it is safe to proceed, as driving in a rush at night or during bad weather could prove fatal.