Name: Justin
From: new york, ny
Votes: 0
Over
75 percent of Americans drive to work. That is around 225.9 million
Americans at risk of an accident. Here’s another scary number; every
year, roughly 1.3 million people die in car accidents worldwide –
an average of 3,287 deaths per day. Young adults ages 15-44 are
responsible for over half of these accidents, and each year more and
more, or young people begin driving. Why is this significant?
Technology these days are so accessible, with the market targeting
young adults awareness must be handled aggressively. Psychologists
agree that smart devices are the most significant distraction among
young minds. With all this said, I agree that it is paramount that we
all properly educate drivers about safety regulations.
My
family doesn’t drive, including myself; however, I plan on changing
that soon. It’s a little discouraging to see the number of car
accidents within a year, especially with regards to the severity of
damages. Living in New York City’s rush hour is no joke, from roads
flooding with cars and buses, to trains stuffed with people. The
probability of accidents occurring is always fluctuating. Once,
during rush hour, I had seen a man riding his bike too close to a
truck and then crashed head-first into the hot concrete. Accidents
like this are preventable. It’s important to remember that the road
is shared, that includes bikes, scooters, and skateboarders, all on
the same street, so imagine the collateral damage! That’s why we must
take steps to decrease the number of casualties, and increase the
percentage on road safety.
I
suggest that the roads become split in direct proportion to the
number of bikers, skaters, and scooters. As each year passes, these
apparatuses get more and more advanced. Electric skateboards and
scooters are becoming the norm, and these upgraded vehicles come with
automatic speed and buttons that act as brakes. However, there are
drawbacks to these electric devices. The suspension on these
electrical boards and scooters are bad, meaning that riding on bumpy
roads creates instability and high risk. Not to mention the
acceleration creates unpredictable road patterns for turning cars.
Therefore, proportionally split lanes on certain streets is an
excellent solution for the safety of skaters and people on scooters.
Although
split roads lower chances of accidents with bikers and skateboarders,
it still doesn’t prevent the ones from drunk driving and texting and
driving. However, with technology these days, the problem is starting
to fix itself. According to the Foundation for Advanced Alcohol
Responsibility, “drunk driving fatalities on our nation’s
roadways have decreased 48%, while total traffic fatalities have
declined nearly 16%. Among persons under 21, drunk driving
fatalities have decreased by 80%.” Social media platforms such
as Twitter and Instagram allows for convenient exposure to the
importance of safe driving.
Safety
should be everyone’s priority, especially when commuting. Providing
generous room on the road for skateboards and scooters creates a
solution to a future problem while social media brings awareness to
the topic of safety. Remember to drive safely!
