The Road to Responsibility

“The number of car accidents in British Columbia has reached an all-time high, with over 350,000 car accidents annually. Each year, these crashes result in more than 500 deaths and thousands more injuries”(WarnettHallen.com). Living directly next to the largest city in British Columbia, unfortunately, these statistics are not surprising. With these compelling statistics, drivers’ education becomes more essential.

I got my ‘New Drivers’ license last summer and am still learning driving techniques daily. Although I am very new on the road, I notice incredible amounts of incompetent and reckless drivers on the road all around my town daily. At least once a week, I experience a situation where I am swerving out of the way or slamming my brakes to avoid a collision. This other driver is either uneducated about the proper rules of the road, disobeying them, or very distracted. Either way, it scares me. Driver Education is crucial as it creates safe roads for everybody. Those somewhat frustrating speed limits and strict rules need to be followed to keep the roads comfortable and to aid in the prevention of accidents and deaths. I believe that while driving one should be very cautious yet defensive, and carefully obey the rules, but one should not be scared.

These people who are causing fear in others on the road have not received the proper driving instruction and education, or they are making severe mistakes. Educating drivers new and old should be much more of a priority in communities. The prevention of these incidents starts with not only the young generations but the older generations as well.  The laws regarding licenses and age are very relaxed. For example, my parents and their friends do not know many of the specific road rules that I learned to get my license. They have much more experience, but if they’ve been driving with bad habits for the majority of their lifetime those habits will follow them and be dangerous for other drivers.

Another example of forgetting driving rules over time can be displayed in some seniors. I have been in the car with my grandma on many occasions and sometimes, it is as if she does not see the stop sign in front of her. I do not feel comfortable in the car with some older folks as they learned how to drive years ago, and have not yet had any renewal tests or lessons. As the population of older drivers increases, so do the statistics of older drivers in crashes. “Drivers aged 70 and older have higher fatal crash rates per mile travelled than middle-aged drivers.”. Of course, everyone has a right to drive and be on the road, but only with the proper education. Education must be reinforced for the drivers who earned their licenses many years ago.

Both older and younger generations pose road safety concerns in an era of constant distractions, particularly from cell phones. Studies have shown that “86 people in B.C. died in 2021 as a result of traffic crashes caused by distracted driving—representing about a quarter of the total 348 deaths recorded nationwide that year.”  Long drives can lead to boredom and a strong temptation to check messages, especially for adolescents with short attention spans. This risky behaviour significantly increases the likelihood of accidents happening swiftly, and harshly.

Driving under the influence is highlighted as the most harmful behaviour on the road, causing terrible accidents. Personal experiences underscore the severity, with individuals close to me having suffered largely due to the immaturity and negligence of drunk drivers. Despite being widely frowned upon, some young people still engage in this dangerous behaviour. Although they do face harsh judgment from their peers, most people know better now. Emphasizing the importance of spreading knowledge and facts about the dangers, is crucial for preventing such incidents.

All of these reasons for distraction are just a couple of the reasons why dangerous driving kills. Distraction, recklessness, improper habits, and slow reaction time all contribute to road accidents and deaths. There are many ways to help solve these issues to promote safe road driving and limit deaths in our communities.

Participating in awareness groups and clubs is an effective means of preventing dangerous driving. Discussing the risks and prevention methods is crucial for promoting road safety. Also, implementing (free) retests every 10 years for license renewal can begin to address road safety issues. Regular assessments would ensure drivers stay informed about updated rules, eliminating unsafe habits and potentially preventing accidents. As a staunch advocate for safe driving, I acknowledge when I begin to form bad driving habits I try to stop them immediately, due to my awareness of the associated dangers.

Reckless driving is all around. My car has experienced a minor collision; luckily I was not involved in the accident. A few weeks ago, someone hit my parked car. I am incredibly grateful that nobody was harmed and the damage was not major, but dealing with insurance companies and booking appointments is a hassle. It is even much of a struggle for drivers who have severe injuries, both physical and mental. Road accidents can cause permanent driving anxiety and PTSD. Fighting back against dangerous driving is imperative for all the reasons mentioned and for those who have lost family members and loved ones due to irresponsibility on the road. People need to be properly educated because the roads can be dangerous.