Creating a Change to Cause a Decline in Reckless Driving

We have all acknowledged the dangers of reckless driving, but we still do it. We’ve seen loved ones lose their lives or heard countless stories on the TV news. Yet the mere thought of it just passes through our heads like it’s nothing because it won’t happen to us, right? But it’s happening more often than you think, and the chances are increasing, with a bigger chance of it being you. It is important to bring light to solutions that can contribute to helping reduce the number of deaths caused by careless driving, such as shining a spotlight on the reality of the problem, adding new laws, or different alternatives that can help you and those around you create a safe environment on the road.

I personally never saw it coming, so on September 15, 2019, I experienced the first death in my own family. At the fault of a drunk driver who happened to be my uncle. Going west in an east lane on a highway that was only illuminated by the moon and the stars. Colliding with another car that caused two deaths and left one incredibly injured. I felt every emotion: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. But along with that, I felt incredibly guilty for the teenager who was with his mother, a single mother who was only consumed by her son’s life and loved him so much. I felt anger towards my uncle, not just for the pain he put my family through but for the new pain he brought to this family. Which brought so much guilt upon me. I am aware it’s not my fault that I shouldn’t be feeling this. But it’s hard when we are the same age and have the same desires in life to complete high school and start a new chapter. Currently, I don’t know where that boy is in life; I’m just hoping he is living a fulfilling life and knows his mother is always by his side.

This is the reason we have to bring awareness to negligent driving; it doesn’t only affect a specific geography but everyone. It acts as a disease, and it has been spreading throughout the United States, taking loved ones every chance it has. This is why it’s a big deal to stop the spread by implementing stricter traffic laws, increasing the presence of law enforcement in high-risk areas, imposing harsher penalties for reckless drivers, or even installing more traffic cameras to monitor road conditions. Because at this point, taking it up with the law seems like the only solution. We have brought so much awareness to the causes of reckless driving, and it helps to an extent, but without censure, things will only continue the same. We cloud our judgment by rationalizing our own decisions, which only adds fuel to the fire. And by starting the process of creating stricter rules on the road, we can extinguish the problem, causing us to grab the attention of millions. That can be diverted to new campaigns that promote the welfare of those on the road, and most importantly their, safety.

In addition, it doesn’t stop with this generation. We want to continue promoting safe driving to upcoming teenagers, so we must continue the advertisement of driver education at schools or even make it a requirement when receiving your driver’s license. These classes will be able to teach adolescents multiple materials about safe driving and even hands-on practice with professionals who can safely lead them on the road. They’ll be able to retain knowledge that will help them out in the real world if an accident arises while traveling and create safe decisions to protect themselves and others on the road. When these adolescents put these skills on the road, they’ll know how to avoid reckless driving, promote the safety of those on the road, and reduce the risk of accidents and deaths that result from negligent driving. But even so, you can take steps that will contribute to your safety and that of others on the road. I place my phone on Do Not Disturb, moving it to an area within arm’s reach so I do not constantly want to grab it. My phone won’t be constantly ringing; the need to check on it is going away. Along with that, no matter the environment around me, I keep a calm demeanor to prevent any further incidents around me. I keep my full attention on the road so I can acknowledge any occurrences in front of me.

Knowing all this, you take notice that there are multiple ways that people can contribute to their safety and those around them on the road, even in ways that comply with the law. All this can be put forward in creating a safe environment, causing a decline in deaths that result from reckless driving. Bringing light to the harsh reality of negligent driving, changing laws to have more discipline for those who endanger others on the road, and promoting new and strong ways you can ensure safety on the road. It will help to achieve a future with fewer accidents that have come about because of reckless driving.