Protecting the Roads of America

Every single day, new aspiring drivers walk out of their local DMV with a license, which allows them to embark on the roads around them with a larger independence than before. After accumulating hours upon hours of driving time and absorbing bouts of knowledge from various driving programs, many of these new drivers are filled with a strong sense of confidence as they get behind the wheel for the first time alone. In today’s world, there are many stringent instructions and requirements that new drivers must follow in order to get their license. This is notably improved from the regulations from years prior, where things like seatbelts were not a huge pressure. However, with the amount of driving-related deaths occurring daily—-especially among teen drivers—-many people, including myself, beg the question whether the requirements to obtain a license are sufficient enough. In order to significantly reduce the number of car accidents and driving-related deaths, new drivers and veterans of the road should be exposed to harsher license requirements as well as continuous tests over the years to prove the driver capable of navigating the roads of the United States.

Car accidents are one of the most tragic forms of death. Not only can they be horrifying and violent, but they are easily preventable. After driving for so long without any issues, many drivers fall under a false sense of security: they believe, with the amount of experience and time on the road they have, the chances of being caught in a collision are low. However, most car crashes are completely unexpected, and they are unable to be anticipated. When I was six years old, I was on my way home from school. That day, I was abnormally separated from my sister, as she had a gymnastics lesson across town. During the ride home, my father receives a call from my aunt, one that he was not expecting at all. My grandmother, who was caring for my sister during this time, was caught in a serious car accident on their way to the gymnastics studio. They had been in the process of crossing an intersection, but a truck decided in the milliseconds between the yellow and red light to speed through. This mistake resulted in my grandmother’s car being totaled, and my sister and grandmother being transported to the hospital. At the ripe age of four years old, my sister was just beginning life, nor had she experienced all of the wonders of life at this point. The split-second decision by the truck driver nearly cost the lives of my sister and grandmother, which is something that my small six-year-old mind could not even fathom at the time. The car accident occurred so randomly, and no one in my family could have anticipated this terrifying event would happen. Fortunately, both my grandmother and my sister did not receive any threatening injuries. In other cases, victims of car accidents were not as lucky as my family was. The fact that so many lives are lost due to negligent driving yearly is terrifying, especially considering car accidents are one of the leading causes of death in the United States. In today’s society, it is imperative that only the most steadfast and responsible drivers are on the road in order to lessen these frightening statistics.

In the prosperous state of Texas, my home state, many major cities such as Dallas and San Antonio have large webbing highway systems. With the amount of people migrating to Texas, the highways become more crowded on a daily basis. Because of this, the likelihood of coming face-to-face with a poor driver becomes higher as time goes on. As a driver of nearly two years, I have learned many of the standard do’s and don’ts of driving. Additionally, I have learned from past experiences how to better navigate the roads in my town and onwards. In order to prove myself safe to other drivers around me, I always make sure that I am in my healthiest state whenever I leave my house. I never surpass the posted speed limits, and I stay in my lane. By proving myself as a safe driver, I know for a fact that I am protecting those around me. In the case of my peers, I always worry about their well-being on the road. The newest generation of drivers is a wild card: many remain wary of the dangers of the road, but others emerge from their driving test feeling upwardly confident. It is crucial I consistently remind my friends and peers to follow the traffic laws in order to save lives and not endanger others.

There are many driving regulations I feel should be implemented or improved in order to adequately protect the drivers of America. Although the standard regulations and license testing may get the job done, I believe the morals and message behind these rules and lessons should be strictly imposed. Even though figures like police officers and court judges do their best to remind local citizens of the law, much more work needs to be done in order for these traffic laws to stick inside our minds. With thorough spreading of awareness and constant reminders of road laws, many drivers will be encouraged to traverse the roads with an increased caution. Additionally, I worry for the older generations of drivers. As we grow older, our cognitive processing slows down, as well as quick decision-making skills. In a world where we will all have to navigate a busy interstate at some point, it is crucial that only the best drivers are traveling the roads. Not only are some of these older drivers putting themselves at risk, but they endanger others around them. I believe at a specific age point, older drivers should be placed under a driving test to prove their unwavering driving abilities and knowledge of road laws. In this way, we can better ensure that this population of drivers will not put themselves or others at risk of a collision. Even with the standard license renewals that occur a few times throughout our lives, drivers should have to take another test to show they are still capable of steering a wheel. Finally, I believe a stronger police presence in certain areas will definitively convey the messages behind traffic law. For most people, the sight of a state trooper or police vehicle is enough to make them ease off the gas. If cities were to increase the amount of traffic defenders, citizens would be better ensured of their own safety and be encouraged to respect the laws set in place.

Driving on the road should not be a scary experience. In fact, keeping the road laws in mind, driving can become a relaxing and entertaining pass-time. With sufficient regulations and proper testing in place, Americans can be rest assured that drivers on their local highways will follow the rules to a T. Even more so, with increased promotions and awareness of general road safety, all drivers can go about their day without worrying for their safety.