The Dangers and Safety of Driving

As posted on the DmvEdu website, upwards of 48,000 people died from US motor vehicle crashes in 2020, and the numbers are still climbing. A lot of motor vehicle car crashes and deaths come from distracted driving caused by distractions on the road, in the car, and even on someone’s phone. Deaths like these can be avoidable. There are a myriad of ways people get into car accidents, but by a few fixes from personal, state, and national levels can these be prevented.

One reason that wrecks occur are by inexperienced or too-relaxed drivers driving recklessly on the roads. One way this can be prevented is having a mandatory driving academy that people must attend to get their license and to have people regularly retake their drivers test. After years of driving with police not being able to regulate every single car, people get lazy with the simplest things like blinkers and coming to a complete stop at a stop sign. Simple improvements like routine tests can keep people sharp, as all of these laws of the road are important for drivers safety. Regulations like these have been proven to work, as many European countries have a lot more requirements for citizens to get their licenses, and they have significantly fewer car crashes than in the US. If more people were defensive drivers, there would be less crashes.

It should also be required for people getting their license to read the driver’s manual written by each state, and a separate test on that to make sure they know their rules. Driver education is immensely important, because if it is ensured that people learn it, it’s more likely to stick with them and they are less likely to get in car crashes. Under mandated instruction, people can become better drivers and be put through harder driving courses than some of the simple “taking the block” drivers tests some counties have. These drivers tests need to ensure that the driver is going to be safe as well as efficient on the road, and driver education, both through reading materials and driving school should be more encouraged and enforced.

I have been fortunate to never have gotten in a proper car accident, but last year I did watch my friend get into a really hard car accident. She was pulling into my house to drop something off, and she stopped to make a left at my driveway, which is on the underside of a hill. A drunk driver coming over the hill didn’t notice her, and because of his delayed reaction time, didn’t brake fast enough and rear-ended her. They collided so hard that both of their cars went into the ditch on the left side of the road. I had to watch as she was taken into an ambulance, unable to stand from the shock. Drunk driving is also a huge issue, especially in the US. Laws should be more strict on people who drink and drive. Repeat offenders should get their driver’s license taken away, and maybe even people whose first offense should get their driver’s license suspended. Especially in suburban and rural communities where driving is more vital, a license suspension could really impact someone’s life, making them less likely to drink and drive because of the consequences. If there were stricter laws, my friend wouldn’t have had to go through that.

There are also many ways to be a safer driver. Reread the most recent version of your state’s driver’s manual every couple of years to stay updated with laws and regulations. Always make sure to stay a safe distance from other cars to be a defensive driver, because defensive drivers don’t only keep themselves from getting into wrecks, but they also can prevent other unsafe drivers from getting into wrecks with them. Always make sure that you’re also in a sustainable mood, too! Distracted driving doesn’t just come from outside sources; if you’re upset or stressed for any reason, you’ll tend to speed and drive recklessly. Take a moment to calm down before getting behind the wheel. And finally, make sure to always be aware when you’re driving. You never know when something may go awry around you, and sometimes all it takes is quick reaction time to stay out of a life-threatening wreck.

Taking the initiative to be a safe driver is so important to one’s community. So many people yearly make the decision to drive in unsafe-conditions and pay with the survivors guilt of killing someone in a car accident. As someone who is a proud safe driver, follow the law, because it’s there to protect you and others.