Automotive-Related Death within Our Nation

The importance of driver education in reducing the number of automotive-related deaths lies in its ability to provide new drivers and drivers previously experienced with the ever-evolving array of skills needed to safely operate while driving. Driver education relates to all drivers, which is important considering that the improvement of automotive safety is a mutual effort and responsibility of all drivers, not just those who are less experienced or new to the practice. Driver education instructs drivers on how to react in situations that go beyond typical traffic laws, such as considering road and environmental conditions to determine a course of action. Driver education also serves to disprove the misconception among all drivers motor collisions are rare occurrences that “could never happen to me” and instead informs drivers on the prevalence of automotive-related deaths and the steps which must be taken in reducing this occurrence.

There are a great many steps that can be taken in the reduction of the number of automotive-related deaths. One important step would be to consistently ensure that passengers are utilizing the proper safety precautions (ie. seatbelts, booster seats, etc.) when the vehicle is in motion. Another step would be taking precautions to never drive under the influence of any mind-altering substances or while in an impaired state of mind (ie. sleep deprivation, while experiencing intense emotion, while stressed or panicked, etc.) Obedience to traffic laws and speed limits is also an important step in increasing automotive safety. The same could be said of focusing on the road at all times and not prioritizing one’s phone, food, drink, or fellow passenger.

I personally have never had the experience of being involved in an automotive accident, and am extremely grateful for that. However, I have seen the effect that irresponsible driving can have on not only those involved in the accident but their family, friends, and community as well. During my freshman year of high school, a young woman in her senior year was tragically killed in an automotive-related accident. She had been traveling with an acquaintance when a passenger of a nearby vehicle rudely gesticulated towards their vehicle. Outraged, her acquaintance recklessly sped after the other vehicle in an attempt to run them down. The vehicle took a turn at high speed, overturning and rolling several times. The driver was minimally injured, however, the girl was not so fortunate. This tragedy devasted the girl’s numerous family and friends throughout my entire school and community. I vividly remember solemn vigils being held at the school front and students breaking down in tears in the hallways. It was as if there was as if a dark cloud of mourning was hanging over my entire town for months on end. I never saw the girl’s driving companion again after the accident. It is my understanding that he ostracized himself from the community and eventually moved away. The immense grief and guilt they felt must have been unbearable. At a young age, I saw the effect that automotive accidents could have on people. I saw the way they could scar and injure more than just the people who experienced the accident first-hand. I saw the way they could destroy the lives of more than just those who died.

Because of the impactful experience I had with automotive-related deaths and accidents when I was young, I have always made it a priority of mine to take steps to be a safe driver. I strictly obey speed and traffic laws, am extremely mindful of my surroundings and fellow drivers, make adaptive decisions in relation to my environment, and prioritize my and others’ safety over punctuality and distractions within the car (ie. my music, food, drink, or fellow passengers, etc.). Another step that I could take in being a safe driver and helping to reduce the number of automotive-related accidents is to help popularize information surrounding these topics. The first and most important step to any sort of change or movement is the accumulation of awareness and support. The easiest way to spread awareness and gain support for one’s cause is via social media. By sharing stories on related forums, creating thought-provoking graphics, and interacting with like-minded people, I personally could make a difference in the safe-driving movement. It is my belief that with enough dedication, support, and effort on behalf of those passionate about the automotive safety cause, that the roads across our great nation can become a safer place for all drivers and that we can serve to help reduce and prevent the tragedy of automotive-related death.