Behind the Wheel: The Urgent Need for Safer Driving practices and mental health awareness

When I get on Facebook, there is always a post about a crash on my town’s 411 page. Someone letting everyone know to expect delays or find a different route. When I see these posts my stomach turns, thinking it could be one of my friends or worse family. Four car crashes have occurred in the past week and a half on the highway leaving my town. Two of those crashes ended with a death. Looking back the last 2 months there have been many more. When I look at the comments on these posts there are always people commenting how stupid and reckless someone could be or how it ruined their whole trip because of the delay. My first reaction to these comments is always “I don’t know how people could be this mean, what if it was their family member?” Sometimes it is just an accident such as a tire blowing out, but that tire blowing out causes the person in the truck next to it, to unfortunately pass. Other times, however, it is caused by a distraction inside the car.

Michael Pines, who wrote the article “The 25 Top Causes of Car Accidents in the US” (Pines, 2024), shows distracted driving, speeding, and drunk driving as the top three causes. The more I think about this, the more gut-wrenching it becomes. These accidents result from our own choices. We choose to look at our phones or take calls, sometimes even getting too caught up in selecting a radio station. We decide to speed to reach our destination faster. We make the dangerous choice to drive under the influence. It seems to be human error, rarely due to a car malfunction.

Driver education plays a crucial role in preventing traffic-related fatalities. Giving individuals the necessary skills and knowledge will help them safely navigate the roads. Enhancing driver education is very important, focusing on defensive driving, hazard recognition and the dangers of distracted and impaired driving can help the driver’s skills and awareness. Making sure the driver has an understanding of the consequences of distracted or impaired driving. Running more local public awareness campaigns to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving, speeding, and impaired driving can influence safer behavior habits while driving.

We should also focus on making our roads safer for drivers and pedestrians. Adding more median refuge islands provides more protected places in the center of the street for bicycle and pedestrian crossing. Placing more bicycle lanes and fixing the ones that aren’t effective can help reduce crashes including bicyclists. Make sure rumble strips are on two-lane rural roads to prevent head-on crashes, especially at night when a driver might be more tired making it more likely to veer into the other lane. We can also widen clear zones, giving drivers more room to correct if they venture off the road.

An often overlooked but crucial factor that is most important to me, is our mental health. Mental health issues can significantly impact driving behavior. According to the Teen Safe Driving Coalition (2023), anxiety can elevate stress levels that can lead to panic attacks while driving, and depression can slow reaction times, increasing the likelihood of accidents. Even the smallest emotions can pose risks behind the wheel. Advocating for mental health, and recognizing the signs within your loved ones, or even yourself, can help save a life. So before you go on the road ask yourself if you are in the right mind to drive. Make sure your loved ones understand the importance of having big emotions while driving. Let them know that they are loved.

Please keep in mind that your life and the lives of others are in your hands when you drive. Take time out of your day to plan ahead and leave a little early to get to your destination in time. Make sure you’re not driving in an emotional state and make sure your friends and family are okay before they leave. If you or anyone you know are about to drive under the influence please get a friend to drive you, or get an Uber. Always tell your family you love them before you drive, you never know if it will be your last.