Car Crashes Are Not Accidents

In the second semester of my first year, my professor of “Basics of Healthy Lifestyle” brought up the idea that car crashes are not accidents. For now, consider why I agree that car crashes are not accidents. Later, I promise to tell you why.

My homeland, Armenia, is in the 83^rd place in the world by the number of deaths caused by car crashes, and for the population we have and the size of the country I live in, this is a somewhat concerning number for me. Based on my observations, the leading cause of car crashes here is the lack of discipline on the roads and in the driver’s mind.

Driver education is such a crucial tool without which it is basically illegal to allow yourself to even come near a car. In my country, a few years ago, a driver’s license was a huge source of business. Thus, many people bought their licenses and were driving. However, they were only equipped with the basic skills of operating the vehicle, but it is essential to be educated to drive. However, our government has made significant changes to this violation by making the driving exams harder to pass and the questionnaires longer. Driver education is like rules to any game. The more you know, the better you orientate during the game, in this case, while driving. The winning price is the safety of your life and those of other players. Is it possible to move on and live with a sense of guilt when you realize that the fatalities caused by your driving result from your irresponsibility? Just because one day you preferred to choose the easier way of not educating yourself? From my experience, it takes you a month to memorize the traffic signs and all the rules and a few months to obtain, develop, and continuously practice your driving skills. Isn’t it better to allocate this much time to those activities instead of rescuing all the time you have left in this world or taking that time from someone else?

The first and the most crucial step to be taken to decrease the number of deaths caused by car accidents is the constant practice of driving. I strongly believe that there is no such thing as “I know how to drive.” Yeah, well, you may know in its basic sense, but think about it. Each time you drive, there is a new scenario on the road. Each time you learn more about operating the vehicle, you feel the car. I had driving class for almost thirty days every day, yet the next time I got in the car, there was at least one new thing that my instructor taught me. In my opinion, the more relaxed you are because you are confident in your driving skills, the less you analyze the road and your surroundings, and unfortunately, in such cases, a car crash is just a result of inattentiveness.

Another important step in reducing car crash deaths can be spreading awareness. I am pretty sure that in the case of Armenia, many people are aware that the traffic here lacks control, but in my opinion, not many realize and acknowledge the death rates caused by car crashes. Thus, there is a lack of information within my society, which may also be the case in many, many other countries. Organizing campaigns or events that cover this topic a few times a year would be helpful. A bonus step would be improving regulations on the road. I specifically know that there is a lack of traffic regulations in my homeland. Drivers slow down when they see a road camera, and once they are far enough, they exceed the speed again. Another example would be this car maneuver that Armenian locals call “shashki.” By this, they refer to the car’s fast driving in between the other vehicles for the sake of getting ahead or shooting a breathtaking video, literally breathtaking. More often than not, such cases remain unnoticed and may eventually result in lethal outcomes.

In fact, I have been in a car crash lately (notice I completely refuse to refer to it as an accident). It was early Monday morning, around 8 a.m., and the cars were not moving in that traffic jam. Yet, while my father’s car was stuck in traffic, we felt something pushing through our car and making its way to the left row. Fortunately, it did not cause any direct harm to us, the passengers. However, our vehicle was taken for a month for expertise, as if the truck driver refused to admit his fault and claimed he was innocent. It does not matter at which speed you drive because, in any case, you should arrange your actions beforehand. It would be best to calculate each centimeter because not every time your car or any other one in the traffic can end up with a couple of scratches. My parents have been driving for almost thirty years now, and I can not tell whether they were as responsible drivers as they are today when they have kids. After all, this may not sound so pleasing, but in my opinion, the sense of responsibility comes with years of practice and even sometimes maybe car crashes, hopefully not major ones.

Just because you on your own have not been in a car crash does not mean you are protected from it either. The system will not be changing on its own, but you can be the change by yourself. Remember, your decision is not only your choice while you are in traffic. You also decide for others, so make wise decisions and drive safely. While driving, you should feel your vehicle and become one whole mechanism with it, and navigate the car by always calculating each turn and considering your surroundings. Lastly, as promised, I do not consider car crashes as accidents. Accidents can not be prevented, but car crashes can. It may take some effort, but I promise it is worth it.

Be safe, stay safe, drive safe!