Steps to reduce deaths while driving.

In 2021, 42,939 people died in motor vehicle accidents. Every day, around 37 people in the United States of America die in a drunk driving car accident. And in 2023, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated that 9,330 people died in traffic crashes in the last three months of 2023. The number of deaths involving vehicles in the United States are possibly one of the major problems that are hard to prevent. Reducing the number of deaths that happen each year because of motor vehicles can be brought about in numerous ways, but every citizen in the United States must act into these measures.

45 percent of the nation’s roads are in poor condition currently. If the United States uses their money to better the road infrastructure, signage, and lighting, this could most likely enhance the safety of all citizens on the road. Montana is currently known as the most dangerous state for drivers. Vermont, South Dakota, and Wyoming are the states in the United States with the highest percentage of crashes on rural roads. If the states focused more on maintaining the roads that people drive on every day, then citizens will be less likely to be hurt in vehicle accidents.

Being educated in driving is comprehensive when being on the road. Defensive driving, hazard awareness, and road safety skills are imperative when driving every day with other drivers. Lack of experience with younger drivers, mainly teenagers, are at a higher risk of car crashes than any other drivers. Because of factors that are regular within teenagers, such as alcohol, drug use, and distracted driving increase their risk of accidents.10 percent of teenagers have fatalities because of distractions on the road. And 82 percent of crashes are while teenagers have alcohol in their systems. Teenagers need to be made more aware and more tempted to be careful on the road while driving. We must truly promote defensive driving within communities with new drivers. Drivers anticipating and reacting to hazards that can happen on the road can prevent more accidents while they happen. Electronic devices are the main distractions while on the road. Talking and texting on cell phones are the cause of 8 percent of 2.5 million nonfatal vehicle crashes in 2021; with 377 fatal car wrecks which is just under 1 percent. The lack of safety being given to the driver of the vehicle is a dangerous game to play while on the road.

Now we will get into the safety of vehicles themselves. Because of new technology innovations in cars, there has been many accidents involving car malfunctions. The start of self-driving cars and driver assistance technology, citizens are struggling to keep up. Vehicles such as Tesla, Ford, Kia, Mercedes, and more, are the main brands of self-driving cars that fit into this category of citizens struggling to adapt. The choice to look cooler in a self-driving, electric car that they don’t know how to use is more tempting than being in a modern car that is simple to drive. Citizens, especially younger citizens, need to make safety their top priority rather than popularity or social media looks, because this is one of the main reasons for wanting these newer model cars.

States must also strictly enforce traffic laws! Citizens need to know that breaking the traffic laws are being dealt with in an extremely. Implementing traffic laws can strongly deter behavior that influence and increase fatal and nonfatal vehicle accidents. Officers can participate in more routine patrols on roads and highways to monitor speeding, reckless driving, and distracted driving. Traffic stops should be a regular thing for officers to initiate when they observe violations. During these traffic stops, these officers can issue citations, other penalties that would deter citizens from violating these laws in the future. Seatbelt enforcement should also be highly emphasized. Passengers who are not properly restrained while driving in their cars on the road increase the risk of death if in a car accident. Officers can do a lot to enforce the rules and regulations of road laws and decrease the chances of death on the road.

As a society, as citizens, we need to want to make the roads safer for everyone. People need to look back and reflect on themselves while driving. Are you doing enough to prevent accidents while on the road? Are you actively being a defensive driver? And are you following the rules and regulations on traffic laws and decreasing your chances of getting into a fatal vehicle accident?