Power in Numbers

I have been a baseball player since I was 4 years old. I make this point for no other reason except that I believe in the power of numbers, and I have taken the time to research the most current data available regarding the number of automobile deaths in the United States, and I encourage all drivers to educate themselves, too. While driver’s education teaches the proper way to operate a motor vehicle and how to read road signs, I think it is critical that the data surrounding automobile deaths should be reviewed. Every year, 42,795 people die in the United States due to motor vehicle crashes. 47% of these deaths are caused by not wearing seatbelts, 36% are caused by drinking and driving, and 29% are due to speed. The most common types of wrecks are due to left-hand turns in oncoming traffic, rear-end events, and running off the road. Distractions like texting while driving, hosting multiple passengers, adjusting the radio or navigation system, and eating are also factors that cause fatal accidents. The highest rates of fatal car accidents occur on Saturdays between the hours of 9-10pm and in the age group of 25-34 years old. Some steps have been taken by driver’s education programs, government, car manufacturers, insurance carriers, and technology manufacturers to improve safety features on vehicles, but more needs to be done.

A CNN study found that left-hand turns are three times as likely to cause vehicle related deaths than right-hand turns. Roundabouts and extended intersections are becoming more common and are assisting with this issue. Some highways have rumble strips on the side of the road so that when a driver runs off the road, the tires hit these strips and give a vibration and loud sound to the driver as a warning. I believe these safety features, and others, should be standardized across the country. It is the responsibility of all levels of Government to provide safe roadways for their constituents.

Vehicles that go up to 140 miles per hour are a simple, yet unsafe, marketing ploy. There is no reason a vehicle should go that fast. Car manufacturers should be held responsible and should rectify this issue. No new vehicles should be manufactured to go a speed higher than 20 miles over the max speed limit. The fix for existing vehicles should be minimal in cost and should be covered by the manufacturer just as any other recall would be covered.

Insurance carriers have incentives for good drivers based on driving history, they have black boxes installed in newer vehicles that rate drivers, and they reward students with good grades, as research shows these students tend to be better drivers. All insurance companies should offer these incentives to all drivers, not just drivers of a certain age.

Newer vehicles have sensor technology that does not allow vehicles to start without seatbelts being buckled. Automatic breaking technology exists to help prevent rear-end accidents. DUI offenders are required to blow into breathalyzer technology to ensure the operator of the vehicle has not been drinking before a vehicle will start. Some automobiles have camera technology on all four sides of the vehicle and others have driver camera technology pointing at the driver instead of the road, and the camera sends notifications when a driver is distracted from texting, talking to passengers, adjusting vehicle equipment, or eating. Possible future vehicle technology would be for cell phones to not operate over a certain level unless it is docked into a station built into the vehicle, only allowing use of Maps and total shutdown of texting operations. These technologies are a step forward in preventing more deaths when driving, but this is only with new vehicles. Older vehicles should be required to be retrofitted with the same features prior to passing state vehicle inspections. Yes, this will be costly. But the cost of a life is invaluable.

While I have never had any of these issues occur to me during my minimal experience with driving, there are things I can do to help. I am now of voting age, and my voice matters. Just like I did my research with the statistics, I will also plan to do research on the people who will be on the ballot and what their beliefs are in steps that need to be taken to improve the safety of our drivers and our roads. I will also use my voice with my peers regarding the data I learned.