Driving: The Unexpected Killer

Stephanie Jackson

Driving: The Unexpected Killer

I am twenty years old, and to this day, I am anxious when I am driving; I believe the importance of driver education plays an important role in not only ensuring better driving habits among individuals, but also reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving simply because it can reduce the number of deaths of drivers. Some steps that I believe would be effective in reducing the deaths related to driving is to first and foremost, build sensors in cars to ensure that there is no unnecessary activity such as swerving from drinking alcohol, looking down at one’s phone, or simply trying to look at yourself in the mirrors of the car. I actually find it ironic that when I first obtained my license I was so excited to drive wherever I wanted, and to be able to have one of the many things that shapes all of the lives of any average young individual, but as I am starting to grow older and drive more, I realize that other people do not pay attention enough to drive efficiently to prevent an accident, that could ultimately lead to death. Not only have I experienced being the car of someone who drives recklessly, but unfortunately enough, I have also lost many close friends that have died from car accidents; just recently I lost a close friend of mine to a drunk driver in Huntington Beach, and the driver was not treated the same way as someone of color with marijuana charges. Most people, young people especially, do not learn their lesson through the experience of others, so if they may have known someone who was drinking and driving, or were on their phones and it resulted in an accident or a death they automatically think that it could never be them, but never say never. My worst fear is not being behind the wheel under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or even being on my phone, my worst fear as a driver is to be in the car in general and happen to be at the wrong place, or even the right place at the right time and have to experience a person who is drunk, on drugs, on their phone, or simply not being careful enough to pay attention and crash and potentially injure me, or a loved one that I may be with. As much as others may not like when people who are not driving try to critique them on how they drive, I will always continue to voice my opinion on their driving skills, as it is not only their life and mine, but others on the road as well; I also think that periodically, everyone must be required to take their behind the wheel test all over again to ensure that they are up to date with the guidelines for driving. As far as steps that I plan to take as a driver is just continue to be a suicide driver as my aunt has told me before; all I can do to ensure my safety and others is driver carefully while periodically checking my mirrors, or pulling over for cars that are driving unusual for me. I think there are plenty of rules that should be followed, but first, we as a society need to recognize that deaths related to driving are more serious than what we may think, even if it doesn’t happen to us; we must first be empathetic, then take action to decrease the amount of deaths.