Was it Worth it?

A lot can happen just within the span of a couple of seconds while driving. An animal could dart in front of the car, an oncoming vehicle could swerve into the wrong lane, a child could chase their toy into the street, and the list goes on and on. Distracted driving is one way that any of these common occurrences turn into a traumatic and potentially a deathly experience. A distraction as small as looking at a text message or taking a bite of a sandwich could cause a driver to lose the control they have while driving.

I believe that driver education is crucial to help limit the amount of deaths due to unsafe driving. Teaching young drivers the dangers that come from distracted driving, speeding, and driving under the influence could have a huge impact on how serious someone perceives driving. This would cause them to want to be cautious while driving and be aware of their surroundings. I also believe that it is necessary to teach drivers how to drive in all types of weather. Being from the midwest, I’ve had to learn to be prepared for various situations, especially weather conditions. Understanding how to drive in snow, rain, ice, and even extreme winds is a critical way to help lower the amounts of accidents and collisions.

Research has repeatedly shown that there is a huge problem in the U.S. caused by deaths due to driving. This is a problem that requires a lot of attention and problem-solving in order to get this crisis under control. I believe that there needs to be an increase in legislation, safety features in vehicles, and opportunities for continued education. By creating stricter laws and enforcing consequences, drivers will be motivated to drive in a safe manner. Oftentimes, people don’t see the importance of driving cautiously because nothing bad has happened to them or they haven’t received consequences for their actions. This is a dangerous mindset to have and the need to drive safely will begin to diminish. Another precaution would be to provide vehicles with certain safety features. For example, the driver’s phone would be synced to their car in such a way that notifications are only read aloud.This would help prevent the driver from taking their eyes off of the road, as well as providing the driver with the reassurance they were able to get the information that they needed. Lastly, requiring continued education would allow them to stay up to date on laws and expectations. A required refresher course every couple of years could greatly improve the general quality of drivers.

While I have never been in a car accident, I’ve seen the aftermath of my dad’s accident. I have also seen irresponsible driving amongst my peers, and even my family. Whether that be speeding, viewing a message on their phone, or driving on the aggressive side. These were all forms of irresponsible driving that luckily did not result badly. If I were to say that I have not done any of these things personally, that would be a lie. I do consider myself a cautious driver, there are still times when I mess up. I believe that everyone has their own set of weaknesses while driving and it’s extremely important to recognize them. Once they understand their tendencies, they can take steps to change their ways. I believe that silencing your cell phone and even putting it in an unreachable location would be a great step to limit a large distraction. Personally, I have silenced my phone while driving to help focus my attention and not be aware of the notifications I may be receiving.

In conclusion, irresponsible driving is a problem that should not be ignored. As cited in DmvEdu.org, the average number of deaths in America related to driving is greater than the amount of soldiers that died in the wars of Iraq and Afghanistan combined. This astonishing statistic should be a huge wake up call for myself and all other drivers. Reckless driving rarely affects just one person. One reckless driver puts countless lives at risk for something as meaningless as reading an email or sending a text message. Driving is a privilege that is commonly taken for granted and even abused. Safe driving needs to be a much larger topic for everyone, because it affects everyone. Whether you can drive or not, it’s crucial to understand what is proper driving etiquette and what is harmful. Drivers need to ask themselves if the choice they are about to make is worth it before they make a choice that could affect them for the rest of their life.