Responsibility, Accountability, and Reducing the Number of Deaths on the Road

Renee
Ruelas

Responsibility, Accountability,
and Reducing the Number of Deaths on the Road

Driver’s
education is extremely important nowadays. With new technology in
cars and evolving generations that feel like multi- tasking is the
best answer for every occasion, people need to understand that it is
okay to slow down and pay proper attention. Drivers ed is
important because more and more people become comfortable with their
bad driving habits: texting a driving, eating and driving, doing
make- up, taking on the phone, looking down for directions, and the
list can go on. Whatever the reason may be, drivers are not as aware
as they need to be when driving because it seems that there is always
something more important than the task at hand. If there was a test
required that all drivers pass nationwide besides the first driving
tests, there could be a chance that deaths related to driving will be
reduced. This test will include basic and advanced driving questions
and situations for drivers to pass, it is only required to be
completed every two years, and the drivers need to get a score above
a certain percentile in order to pass. Driving is a privilege not a
right and it is important that drivers begin to understand this. If
this test were to be implemented, then there is a stronger chance
that drivers will understand, be reminded, and feel accountable for
the amount of power and responsibility they have whenever they sit
behind the wheel.

I
am lucky and fortunate enough to have people in my life who are safe
drivers because they understand the amount or responsibility that
they hold when driving. All of my friends, family, and I make sure to
never do anything behind the wheel except to operate the vehicle. We
understand the risk we take whenever we do drive because everyone is
not going to abide by the same mentality. Also, we all take into
consideration that it is not just our lives at stake when driving, it
is also those around us that we have to care for and trust. We all
have places to go and people to see, so why not take care of
efficient business while on the road by only thinking about being on
the road.

Some
steps that I can take to becoming a better and safer driver are being
aware more often and turning down my music when I am not as alert as
I need to be. I am not a perfect driver, no one is, but I can help
myself stay safe. Looking at the bigger picture I see that just
because we may not know each other on the road, does not mean that
other people who are not on the road with us do not care about it.
So, a motto that can help all of us drive safer is: Love the people
around you like you love your loved ones. Taking care of one another
is as simple as keeping your eyes and mind on the road at all times.