Drive Safe, Save Lives

I’ve been terrified of driving my entire life; I didn’t get my license until nearly 17 years old. People would constantly tell me that I was crazy and that there was nothing to worry about. They were wrong; it is best to be prepared for the worst when driving. The news informs us daily on the dangers of driving by giving us death counts and accident reports. It’s terrifying, but everyone moves on like it means nothing; this is not the mindset people should have. Two out of three motorists will be involved in an injury resulting from an accident in their lifetime. The average motorist can expect to be involved in an accident every ten years.

Vehicle Accidents are the leading cause of death in teenagers; 16-year-olds also have the highest crash rate compared to every other age. Drivers Education is taught by professionals who devote their lives to teaching, researching and experiencing the rules of the road. These classes are much more detailed, with thorough lessons and curriculum. Teenagers aged 16 to 19 are around three times more likely to be a part of a fatal crash than drivers aged 20 and older. According to AAA, teens who take driver’s ed reduce their accident rate by 4.3% and are 40% less likely to get ticketed.

While driving is a very dangerous part of our everyday life, several precautions can be followed. One of the most obvious dangers to the road is drunk drivers. Around 28 people die from drunk driving crashes in the United States every day. In 2019 the percentage of these accidents reached the lowest in over 30 years. While this is a huge step in the right direction, 10,142 fatalities still occurred that year. Having alcohol in your bloodstream causes slowed reaction time and impaired judgment. According to NHTSA, drunk driving crashes cost more than $37 billion a year. These accidents are very easily preventable, have a trusted person be a designated driver, or wait to drink until safe at home. With cell phones growing more popular as our days go on, distracted driving is a real issue. 3,142 people were killed in distracted driving accidents in 2019. The only way motorists can drive safely is when their attention is completely devoted to the road. When a person reads or sends a text message, it takes their eyes off the road for five seconds. While five seconds may not seem like a lot, when a person is driving at high speeds, it could be the difference between life and death. An easy way to prevent distracted driving accidents would be to turn the phone off and wait until fully parked and safe before responding to a text or phone call. Driving at high speeds is one of the most dangerous aspects of driving. Breaking the speed limit puts the driver and all surrounding drivers at risk. The faster someone drives, there is less reaction time, and it takes more skills to avoid an accident. The easiest way to prevent these catastrophes is to follow the speed limit and give full attention to the road, especially after dark.

Unfortunately, I have been in a few accidents, along with people that I know. Around a year ago, only two months after I got my license, I slid on ice and crashed into the back of the car in front of me. It was the first snowfall of the year, and in Kansas, when it snows, the roads turn to ice. I had no experience driving on slick roads, but I was only going to school about three minutes away. I was lucky enough to walk away unscathed, with minimal damage done to my car and none to the victim’s car. Another incident occurred only a few months ago while I was driving home from work. Late at night, I was driving around 50 miles per hour and hit a series of potholes hidden on the side of the road. My tire completely slashed open, I slowed down and controlled my driving the best I could. I carefully pulled into a parking lot and called for help. Once again, I was very lucky to be safe and alone on the road. Both these experiences, while terrifying at the time, have helped me grow as a driver and better understand the dangers of the road.

When it comes to drivers all around the world, there are a few ways to be safer on the road. Accidents involving teenagers in my town almost always include a weather-related incident or an animal. We must be informed of not only the basic rules of the road but also the consequential matters. To save lives, we must devote ourselves to research, teaching, and normalizing the common and obscure dangers of driving.

Works Cited:

“Driver Education Archives.” Drive, https://www.drive-safely.net/category/driver-education/

Leslie Kasperowicz Farmers CSR for 4 Years. “The Importance of Driver’s Ed.” Obrella, 16 July 2021, https://www.obrella.com/news/why-drivers-education-is-a-must-for-teen-drivers/

Media, NHTSA. “2020 Fatality Data Show Increased Traffic Fatalities during Pandemic.” NHTSA, NHTSA, 3 June 2021, https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/2020-fatality-data-show-increased-traffic-fatalities-during-pandemic.