Abigail Raike
With a global population increase, more and more people have the ability to drive. Almost everyone has been in some form of a car accident, either as the driver or as a passenger. The majority of the deaths while driving were caused by speeding or distracted driving, making them preventable occurrences. In order to reduce the number of deaths while driving, everyone on the road must collectively wear their seatbelts, avoid distractions, and abide by the laws in place to protect them. As cars have developed, so have their safety features, specifically seatbelts. In older cars, there may be just a lap belt or even no seatbelts, making the potential accident even deadlier. In the case of an accident, seatbelts hold your body against the seat, attempting to keep you safe from the wreckage. Without a seatbelt on, drivers and passengers risk being thrown out of the car and exposed to a more dangerous situation. In my opinion, the most important step in preventing car accidents is avoiding distractions while driving. Distractions can be visual, physical, or cognitive; including phones, the radio, other passengers, food, or anything in the car requiring attention. To prevent distracted driving, make sure you plan ahead before you leave, like having directions ready and queuing music beforehand. If you intend to have a passenger, have them perform functions for you, like texting or looking at a map.

In my high school career, I have been involved in 3 car accidents in addition to 2 minor ones. The first one occurred in my sophomore year, where an intoxicated driver side-swept the school bus I was on. Since the driver was under the influence, her brain’s processing was delayed, causing her to think the road was clear for her. In the second accident, my friend was driving with me in the passenger seat. She was making a right turn, and her vision of the lane was obscured by parked cars, so she decided to pull out anyway, and we were essentially t-boned by an approaching car. Though she wasn’t intoxicated or distracted, she decided to go anyway. I remember seeing the approaching car immediately after she pulled out, and remember saying “Mikayla, NO!” This accident could’ve been prevented by her moving her car slightly forward until she could see better or the other car could see her. My third accident was the first one with me behind the wheel. I was starting to slow down for a red light in the distance, then looked down at my phone to change the song. When I looked up, there was a car right in front of me and I lightly rear-ended them. Thankfully, there were no damages or injuries, but it could’ve been prevented if I hadn’t distracted myself. To be safer on the road, everyone in the community needs to take steps of change. Though many drivers understand the rules of the road and their consequences, many of us need to acknowledge them and remember them before driving. Drivers should avoid distractions, wear seatbelts, and follow all driving laws. With this, the roads will be safer and the community subsequently benefits.