Driving Safety – More Than Cars

Driving is a skill often taken for granted in the United States, simply because of how necessary it is to navigate the world we live in. Districts and social centers are often separated out past the point of reasonable walkability. In many places, even if one were willing to walk the distance, it may prove difficult in areas with busy streets in lieu of sidewalks. Chances are, if you’re not the one driving: you’re getting driven, and there are now multiple business models which revolve around this need (ie., Uber, Lyft). But, perhaps because of how universal we’ve made driving, we don’t take it nearly as seriously as we should.

According to data gathered by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motor vehicle accidents have been on a generally steady decline since 2022, after a rise in 2020-2021. However, the majority of fatal incidents have still been caused by driver error – primarily risky or distracted driving (driving while impaired, speeding, sleepy, or using a device). The current average now is still notably higher than it was pre-pandemic, in spite of improvements.

Driving can be extremely stressful, as I and many others have undoubtedly seen and experienced firsthand – especially because, on the road, everyone is trying to get somewhere, and the more people there are, the slower the flow of traffic has to move. Adding to the existing, necessary stressors, most people drive to and from places they have to be: work, school, shopping – and, for parents, dropping off and picking up their kids from any variety of places. These things are draining, and no doubt contribute to some of the lethargy that causes roadway accidents.

For me, personally, I know I have driving issues I need to correct. While I specifically avoid distracted and unsafe behaviors (I only use my phone to turn on music, and display Google Maps if I need it – which is normalized although the driver’s manual discourages this), I still struggle to give 100% of my attention to the road at every given moment. It’s such a volatile environment that I find my mind wandering instead of locking in on what’s directly ahead of me. In my case, despite being confident in my abilities, I have disorderly anxiety which causes me to overthink and become trapped in the cycle of reminding myself to pay attention.

However – this is far from a problem unique to me. I believe this is an issue that many people of my generation face, especially given how much technology has impacted teenagers’ attention spans. With the prevalence of social media and the increasing phenomenon of kids who find difficulty in activities that don’t immediately reward them, it’s no wonder. In fact, the impact of social media on the world’s next drivers can almost certainly not be understated. It’s exceedingly common to hear jokes online about hitting bikers and pedestrians (and ‘earning points’ for doing so), scrolling Tiktoks/Instagram Reels while driving, intent to drive while intoxicated, and more – all repeated by the primarily 15-25 year olds who see them.

Then, on the flipside, are those who have been driving for 10, 20, 30+ years. Because driving has become all but second-nature for this crowd, they’re not as thought of when it comes to reckless driving, but this comfortability is dangerous. In fact, while those aged 21-24 are most likely to suffer a DUI, the largest demographics of intoxicated drivers involved in fatal accidents in 2022 were those 25-34, 35-44, and 45-54, in that order. Inexperienced drivers are not the only or biggest problem that needs dealing with.

Overall, the biggest chunk of the issue is in two main parts. Firstly, lack of care for the actual safety procedures the road necessitates is definitely one of them. Then comes the natural wear of consistent actionable responsibility in the working world we live in, leading to decreased focus and critical thought from fatigue. One part of the solution, then, is alternatives.

Living in the Portland Metro Area, I have access to the Metropolitan Area Express (colloquially known as the MAX), which is a form of public transportation used by thousands of people daily. In many metropolitan areas, in fact, is where public transportation thrives the most – think to prominent subways in places like New England. While public transportation has a reputation to the general public – mainly based on poor maintenance and the perception of people who use it – by putting more state-wide focus into making sure these systems run well, have safety systems in place, stay clean, and especially by making sure they’re easily accessible from residential areas by those who need them, it’s possible to encourage their use on a wider scale. Sometimes, people really do need a break from driving, and the ability to get where they need to be without bearing all the responsibility and firsthand stress.

More than explicitly provided transportation, another step in the right direction would be in infrastructure that’s supportive of walking and biking. Sometimes the difference between driving somewhere and walking somewhere can be hours of time – a ridiculous price to pay if someone needs to carry groceries, feels like walking, or just doesn’t have access to a car. While cyclists have it a little easier – bike lanes are commonplace, and bikes can usually navigate on a road, path, or sidewalk – there are still thousands injured and even killed by car accidents each year, something which could be reduced if there were more reliable space for them.

The other piece, of course, is how our drivers are educated. Much of the time, we forget how dangerous driving really is, and when that happens, we put ourselves and everyone around us at increased risk. It would be beneficial if drivers’ education were continuous, provided it could happen with the non-stop bureaucracy of the DMV. I don’t see it being popular or easy with the state of scheduling, but re-testing every few years (primarily knowledge – as review and to keep track of updated regulations) may inspire better upkeep of the rules. If not for everyone, then for someone. The same goes for managing inappropriate influence and attitudes toward driving on social media. Real repercussions are needed. Those who purposefully wish to be defiant will do what they want to do until they can’t anymore, but hopefully those with a vested interest in staying safe, even thinking they already have sufficient knowledge, will be adaptable to reminders and learning.

It may seem counterintuitive, but making driving safer for everyone involves improving support for all forms of transportation. Providing the option not to drive is a part of that, and so is keeping people up-to-date for if they do decide to drive. For many cities now, it seems almost completely infeasible, but cars didn’t become the de facto form of transportation up until about a hundred years ago. If we, societally, began to build up these systems and allow them to be built up, not only would it freely allow people to diversify their methods of movement, but also free up roadways, making them less congested and ever-safer to utilize. All safety is road safety.