It’s an Unforgiving Land

Let’s face it everyone, there are way too many people who die every single day while on the road. The CDC has stated it as one of the leading cause of death in the United States, ranking above even suicide and stroke on the charts. These numbers make it crystal clear just how much of an issue unsafe driving has become in the past few decades. So what can we as a people do to prevent deaths on the roadway?

I live in the state of Texas, where in 2018 it was ranked as the state with the most fatal car crashes. As much as I hate to say it, I’m not surprised, as for years I have seen people speeding on both highways and backroads, often at the risk of harming both others and themselves. Street races happen on the daily, with modified automobiles speeding on roads at ridiculous speeds with reckless abandon. It’s common to see a mangled chassis surrounded by police vehicles and tow trucks on a daily drive, and parts being stolen from a parked car when no one is looking to sell on the black market. With all of the chaos caused by all of these accidents, there has been a sharp increase in insurance rates compared to other states, making it difficult to even finance a vehicle legally. This has caused many to acquire vehicles in various illegitimate methods, from stealing to buying from the black market.

The main trouble in Texas is that there are so many drivers who do not possess a license, and thus are driving their car illegally and without the experience and knowledge to drive safely. These drivers will even go so far as to put a paper license plate onto their vehicles so that the police cannot properly ID them. Other major issues that result in accidents include driving while intoxicated (alcohol or any other form of drug that would inhibit reaction time and self-control), being distracted while at the wheel (i.e. texting or putting on makeup) and reckless driving such as street racing and cutting off other drivers. Texas roadways have become an unforgiving land full of danger and death thanks to these drivers, and so there needs to be a solution put in action to lower accident and fatality rates.

And so, with the issue in mind, let’s get back to the question: How do we prevent these deaths from occurring? Well, it all comes down to one thing: driving is a privilege, and only those who have earned that privilege should be on the road. There are far too many people driving today who don’t understand the responsibility that should be necessary to drive. There are laws to abide by, rules to follow, and procedures to perform that so many many people take for granted. These people are the root problem of unsafe driving, for they have become a threat by not taking those responsibilities seriously, and therefore they should not have the right to drive if they aren’t willing to put the effort into doing so safely and with respect for both themselves and others.

So how do we prevent these negligent drivers off the road? One of the best solutions would be to increase the necessary qualifications for receiving a proper driving license, and for those who are driving illegally, the authorities (police and government) should make automotive purchases more secure and require proper documentation to lessen illegal purchases. My theory is that if there are more safe drivers and less issue-prone drivers, then there will be order as there always should have been. If these reforms were to be put in action, then the amount of accidents caused on roadways should lessen drastically, helping pave the way for a safer world.

Driving is a privilege, and only those who have proven that they have the responsibility to drive safely and prevent accidents from occuring should be at the wheel. On roadways like Texas, there is little room for error, one must know what they are doing at all times and stay focused to prevent any incident from ever occurring. It’s an unforgiving land here, but with the right people making the right decisions it doesn’t have to be that way. If we remove those who do not care for their own and other’s safety from being able to drive and crack down on illegal acquisition of licenses and vehicles, then we can create a safer, better road for all, where the people do not have to worry about their mortality on a daily drive.