Name: jasmine hurtado
From: lawrenceville, georgia
Votes: 0
The
average individual is one of three people: someone who is ignorant of
an issue, feels powerless against it, or is unwilling to make a
change. Most will deny this considering no one chooses to be the
indirect cause of an epidemic, but surely 9/10 of us are.
Tens
of thousands of people die every single year due to car accidents for
numerous reasons: being under the influence of drugs or alcohol,
mobile devices, recklessness, inexperience. And despite the various
PSAs seen in person or through the media, the issue is still pending
solution. I have never been in a car accident, but I’ve gotten the
sweat-inducing calls saying my parents or my brother had gotten into
one. Whether you have been in an accident yourself, as a passenger,
I’m sure you’ve been through enough close calls to realize that a
split second could’ve cost someone either their life or a lifetime of
pain physically or financially. If statistics alone cannot persuade,
a simple “what if” moment is enough to call anyone to
action.
As
charming as it sounds, a simple change of heart won’t ensure the
lives of millions of drivers on the road. A mutual effort from not
only the driver but also passengers and even producers will lower the
number of injuries and casualties caused by car accidents.
Drivers
should be conscious of the power they have behind the wheel and be
alert when driving: uniformly scanning their surroundings, following
the rules of the road, and keeping full control over their vehicle.
Passengers should also be wary of oncoming cars and speed limits as
well as possible distractions to the driver. If they see the driver
reaching for the phone or the radio, take the phone away or ask what
they need so that they can stay focused on driving. The
responsibility of safe driving also falls on the manufacturers of not
only vehicles themselves but also of the technology around us. Car
companies should continue to work on creating the most reliable and
resilient accident prevention systems in the safest models to account
for situations in which the driver has done all he/she can to stay
safe. Our smartphones should also use their advancements that tell
you how fast you’re going on Snapchat or what the weather is today to
alert drivers when their speeding or when a storm is on its way.
Although
there have been some improvements made to make our roads safer, there
hasn’t been enough as the number of accidents only increases. As
cities quickly turn into suburbs, there will be more and more new
drivers, and it’s up to each of us to ensure their safety.
