Between Life and Death

Do you ever notice how, the majority of the time, you don’t hear much about boat or ship accidents, plane crashes, or even bus or train crashes? Have you ever noticed when accidents like that do happen, they appear as a headliner on the news? Statistically speaking, those types of accidents are very rare. However, a car accident is not something new. Thousands of people a year have lost their lives in car accidents. Drivers Ed is an essential part of society especially for young people. Drivers Ed teaches us how to keep ourselves and others safe because well, the road is a pretty dangerous place. Being armed with the knowledge and skills provided in Drivers Ed can make a significant difference between life and death.

If a seatbelt isn’t enough to reduce the number of deaths as a result of driving, there should be some different approaches. Maybe all vehicles should have some sort of device installed that warns the driver if speeding or if they are driving too slow. There should be a limit to how fast a car can go when it’s in construction by the automotive industry if there isn’t already a limit. All sports cars should be banned. It’s already illegal for the driver to drive without a seatbelt, run a light but let’s take it a step further. If it means to flood the streets with traffic cops, make more lines to get on a freeway in order to reduce the number of speeding cars, arm the streets with traffic cameras, etc. I believe there are so many things that can be done. However, this can lead back to the drivers responsibilities. Some drivers speed to show off, DUI, text while driving, etc. Maybe somebody should monitor drivers for a period of time even after receiving their license to prevent problems like that. Some might say people speed so they can make it on time for work. I’d rather be late for work then to lose my life just trying to get to work.

Luckily, I have never been in a car accident, but I know people who lost their lives. Lisa “left eye” Lopes from TLC, was killed in a car accident. Comedian Tracey Morgan was involved in a car accident and lost his friend. I myself even witnessed extremely irresponsible driving. I have seen people fall asleep behind the wheel and try to race other cars just because they got a brand new ride and want to show it off like we are in the Fast and Furious movie. And that just reminded me, Paul Walker, who was casted in that same movie, was killed due to speeding.

If I ever decide to become a driver, I must make sure I am aware of the dangers of it. I must commit to going to Drivers Ed and utilizing the skills into becoming a responsible driver for myself and for others. If riding with another person who seems to be driving irresponsibly, I would be obligated to remind them of their dangerous actions and inconsideration.