Name: Rishika Singh
From: Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh
Votes: 1
While
we are helpless spectators to most of the death and devastation
caused by uncontrollable factors such as forest fires, cyclones,
earthquakes etc around the world, road accidents and mishaps are one
of the few safety hazards that we, as ordinary citizens, can have a
role in reducing.
Accidents
are often results of fatal mistakes amid which distracted driving
continues to be the leading cause of deaths1.
The advent of technology and smart phones has admittedly made our
lives easier. However at the same time, it has led to the birth of
hazardous safety mishaps involving texting while driving, taking
selfies while driving and taking part in ridiculous ‘challenges’,
the most recent one being the Kiki challenge which involved getting
out of a moving car.
While
taking a survey, I found that the general population does not view
distracted driving as a serious issue as in their opinion, most
drivers are responsible enough to not use their phones while driving,
at least when there is heavy traffic. However, this claim was
debunked by researchers who proved that around 660,000 drivers
attempt to use their phones while driving.
About
390,000 injuries and one out of every four accidents in the United
States occur annually due to texting and driving which makes it 6x
more dangerous than driving drunk. To make it simpler, ’Answering a
text takes away your attention for about five seconds. Traveling at
55 mph, that’s enough time to travel the length of a football
field2.’
The
crux of this issue is that drivers, in particular the youth, are not
aware of the consequences of reckless or irresponsible driving. Not
only do they need to be educated but also sensitised to the
devastation their smallest slip up can lead to. This is where driver
education comes in. Texting and driving
is only one of the many lesser known reasons behind car accidents.
Over speeding, jumping red lights and other such laxities undertaken
br drivers for the sake of ‘thrills’ need to be discouraged and
not just through awareness but also sensitisation. Direct contact
with former defaulters and victims can help make the drivers aware of
the paroxysm that follows accidents. Making them aware of the lack of
legal impunity in such cases may also help in making them rethink
their reckless ambitions.
I
do consider myself privileged for not having experienced a single
accident yet, perhaps because having just got my drivers license last
month, I drive at a speed at which even cyclists can overtake me. I a
lso because I live in a small town which has safer roads than a
metropolitan. I have however seen several scares and potential
accidents which were prevented by mere luck. While responsible in
most situations, several of my family members are guilty of
succumbing to texting while driving which I feel is nothing short of
a ticking time bomb. As a teenager I have also seen my friends and
classmates over speeding for the sake of being ‘spontaneous’ or
‘cool’ which yet again I feel is a disaster waiting to happen.
As
a well-wisher and a citizen who has to drive alongside them, the
least I can do is try and convey everything that I have written in
this essay to them and to as many people as I can. Ensuring my safety
and the safety of those around me is more important and impactful
than risk being called ‘boring’ or ‘uncool’. Hence, the
first measure that should be taken by us should be to prevent our
family and friends from indulging in any activity that risks their
lives or that of others. After all safety, like charity, begins at
home.
