Live Safe,

The automobile. A copious innovation, if anything, making for quite the charitable chariot. Running on gasoline, oil, and the sweat and brainpower of those who invented it, there is no denying that this revolutionary mechanism was a must-have for all who could afford it. Unfortunately, smart and responsible drivers weren’t the only ones with money. There were others, less responsible ones, who chose to multitask, drink excessively, or even make it known that automobiles could be used for an odd form of manslaughter. Even less fortunately, this would also end up accounting for a minimum of 37,000 auto-related deaths per year. Thankfully the responsible ones knew how to react to this: educating drivers about both the joys and dangers of being a privileged owner of their own car.

This practice persisted to this very day, under the common yet fitting name of driver’s education. They couldn’t have picked a better demographic, either. Driver’s Ed instructors aim to teach mostly teenagers about responsible driving, though some have procrastinated and learned at an even later age. However, a younger generation is easier to mold and help create habits for, so they shouldn’t have trouble gaining proper driving experience and staying safe on the vast roads. Also, it’s not unusual to see someone who always gets around by bus. Either they never learned to drive, or they had their licenses revoked (probably for a good reason, too). But one way or another, it’s very important that young people today undergo this type of training so they can help to prevent themselves and others from being subject to a risk that, in a perfect world, shouldn’t exist in the first place. The greatest risk known to all who drive.

Death.

It has crept over many a human being and will do so to everyone inevitably. Sure, its withered fingers have squeezed the life out of old folks, but as of recently, people have died younger; quite tragically, might I add. One of the leading causes for premature death is, in fact, cars crashing. This can happen in numerous ways; mostly, an inexperienced (or just plain irresponsible) driver is at fault. They’re speeding down the street going 35 miles per hour in a residential area, texting their friends about the party on Saturday, when BOOM! They are guilty of murder before they know it. Often times you will see documentaries about exactly this sort of thing, in which the unintentional assailant breaks down while filming about how insignificant that text was or how much fun it seemed only in the moment. And it’s only natural for people to act on instinct in the moment, or it could just be adaptational hedonism.

But…. all is not lost. The situation may seem grim, and we’d like to turn our heads away, be glad that nothing of the sort has happened to us, and ignore the subject for the remainder of our undisturbed, harmonious lives. BUT, what if this unforeseen tragedy happened to you or someone close to you? Well, believe it or not, it comes closer to happening on a daily basis than one might think. Take me, for instance. I’ve ridden in my parents’ car numerous times as a child, but only as of late did it start becoming clearer to me that they took risks time to time. After all, no driver is perfect! Otherwise we wouldn’t need to teach the next generation how to drive! Periodically my dad would text while driving, as opposed to my mom, who prefers voice texting. Sometimes I would notice this and point it out, as I have always had a certain regard for safety. In addition, despite the fact that phone distractions account for 64 percent of all roadway accidents, there are other no-goes when it comes to driving. For example, some speedsters who may or may not be obsessed with Fast and the Furious love to break traffic laws out of their own will.

Law enforcement agencies and their traffic operatives are doing their best to help slow and steady win this “race,” but the reason people still do this is because the lawmakers shouldn’t be the only people to actually follow their laws. Every one of us who has had a turn behind the wheel should help prevent people from being under their wheels, which can be done by powering off your phone before hopping into the driver’s seat. If you are one of the *very* few who don’t have a problem with technology abuse, contribution is simple: just stay in your lane, and always remember to let other drivers know when you’re making a lane change or stopping. You know, you have access to a whole arsenal of safety mechanisms, so it’s not all about joyriding! Stay safe, and let’s not cause any trouble on the road!