A Dangerous Activity

A Dangerous Activity

What if I told you the most dangerous activity that most people partake in is something they are willing to do in their everyday routine. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, “Motor vehicle collisions are one of the leading causes of unintentional death in the United States.” Once I got my intermediate and started driving on my own I realized how many irresponsible drivers were on the road. I have seen people run stop signs, red lights, not use turn signals, texting and driving, swerve into other lanes, and so many more irresponsible actions.

While the amount of transportation accidents have been on a downfall in the last 10 years there is still much work to be done. For transportation agencies there are many measures that should be established and others that should be improved upon. For example, street designs and layouts could be improved upon to help protect pedestrians and cyclists. In 2013, “4,735 pedestrians and 743 cyclists” died in vehicle collisions, according to the U.S. Department of Transportations. Many of these fatalities could have been avoided by having a better designed street. Some of these improvements include ways to reduce traffic speed such as speed bumps or roundabouts. Slower traffic means less speed for impact and more time and focus to react to surroundings. For cyclists and pedestrians there should be established bike lanes or enlarged sidewalks. Dedicating spaces for these two groups will help avoid confusion leading to collision and will give them more space to separate.

While transportation agencies have to make improvements there are measures drivers must take as well. Two of the biggest causes of accidents is operating vehicles distracted or drunk. If drivers avoided these two actions then 56.6% of fatal motor vehicle accidents would not happen. This would save countless pedestrians, cyclists, passengers, and other drivers’ lives. While these are the two big ones there are other actions that can be taken. Firstly, make sure the vehicle meets all safety codes and that passengers are sitting in appropriate seating and in an appropriate manner. When driving make sure to obey all traffic laws. Lastly, drive with respect to others sharing the road with you.

Nelson Mandela once said “Education is the most powerful weapon which can be used to change the world.” I think fixing most of the transportation related deaths starts with driver education. The path to getting your full license is full of new skills and knowledge. Most people never sit behind the drivers wheel until they get their permit. That window of time is essential to creating new, safe drivers. I think it would be wise to have students take a course or integrate some other way so they realize how dangerous driving is. They should know the weight of their actions could have deadly consequences. This newfound responsibility should come with a reminder that this is the most dangerous activity they may partake in.