Drivers Safety: What Could Be Done

Education before obtaining a driver’s license is crucial for road safety. I remember going through the course and being told, “Crash, boom, die!” when referring to driving safely. If you drive recklessly, you are more likely to get into an accident that results in death.

I have never been in an accident that resulted in injury, but a close friend recently experienced a traumatic event. His family was driving home after visiting relatives when they ascended a hill. At that moment, a young driver in his late teens was speeding and attempting to overtake another vehicle at the top of the hill. The two cars collided, and the young driver came dangerously close to losing his life. This incident has left a profound sense of fear and caution regarding driving within my friend.

Whenever we are driving, he will comment on the roads and speed of the car. His worry brings an impact to how I see myself when I’m on the road. Considering that the other driver in the incident was around my age, it makes me wonder how recklessly I drove. I have started to monitor my surroundings and speed even more regularly in order to make sure that everyone, whether in my car or someone else’s, is at less risk of an accident.

However, to expand further on the topics relating to unsafe driving habits, there is a need to address things outside of what driver’s education can provide. We live in a world where people do not always like to follow the laws, and many times are able to get away with it due to there being no witnesses or unable to be identified. This does not have to be the case if we start to dive deeper into ways to prevent unsafe driving conditions. These include speeding, driving without a seatbelt, drinking before driving, fatigue, and emotions. 

When handling speeding and how to combat it, an idea would be to post consistent monitors along the roads that would report speeding vehicles. This system would record throughout the day, flagging certain points when drivers are speeding or recklessly driving. This would auto-initiate local authorities and tickets being sent to the driver. To further the effect of this system as well, there could be preventatives placed into cars. 

This system would work similarly to Google Maps, where it shows the speed limit, however, it would also place a threshold on the accelerating system. Similar to cruise control, however, it works to maintain a safe speed for the conditions of the road. 

To combat seatbelts not being worn, modern car manufacturers would possibly need to implement a system where the car will not drive without all in the car being buckled up. This is not referring to the current light and annoying blink and ping of an alarm. Specifically, a sensor that would prevent a car from being shifted into another gear. Many states within the United States allow for back seat riders within a vehicle are not required to wear a seatbelt, only the driver and passenger in the front of the car must wear a seatbelt. When in a crash this leads to an eight percent increase in injuries, and are twice as likely to die as a result of not wearing a seatbelt. 

Other precautions that could be taken would be putting monitors into cars that would be able to detect physical abnormalities of the driver. This includes pulse monitors in the steering wheel, specifically to analyze for medical or emotional issues, and facial and behavioral analyzers within the vehicle itself. Included with these sensors, is an automatic call to 911, connected through the car, allowing the driver to speak with an operator. These systems would prevent the car from being driven by someone with an irrational behavior or mindset. It adds another safety precaution that many would see as an invasion of privacy, however, prevents more fatal crashes from occurring.

All of these solutions provided are systems that would need to be created in the future to prevent crashes. However, in today’s society, these systems do not exist for the mass population. Some ways that an individual could prevent accidents on the road is by looking at the conditions outside, especially before they leave their home. They could also maintain the speed limit, and drive a speed appropriate to the condition of the roads.

It is also important to follow all laws and safety precautions iterated within the state a person resides in. However, the difficulty with each state is that they can have slightly different regulations. It is important to do research when traveling through different states. However, this isn’t always ideal, as it would be easier for all states to have cohesive laws so that every citizen is treated equally.

When it comes to driving safety laws, I remind myself to stay aware of my surroundings. As a lifeguard, I constantly scan for dangers, and this awareness is equally important while driving. A situation can arise quickly, and failing to respond appropriately can lead to trouble. That is why knowing the laws and being alert is crucial.

Ultimately, all drivers share responsibility for their safety and that of others. Awareness of laws and conditions is essential to prevent accidents and save lives. Education before driving helps combat accidents, but there is more we can do to prevent fatal accidents on the road.