Drive Safe, Save Lives

Drive Safe, Save a life

Every single person has someone that they care about very deeply. This person is someone that you hope is happy and safe at all times. In fact, you are probably thinking about them right now. In a blink of an eye, thousands of people have lost that individual that they care so deeply about due to a fatal motor vehicle car accident. In the United States of America alone, so far in 2020 there has been approximately 16,650 people that have passed from a fatal motor vehicle car accident. Thousands of lives have been lost, but it is possible and there are ways to reduce this number so less people have to say goodbye to the individual that they love the most.

A way that our country can reduce this number is by encouraging and promoting the importance of driving education and safety. If a driver understands the importance of safe driving and takes the time to focus on the course, the driver will become a comfortable and confident driver. Therefore if we have more confident and comfortable drivers in our country, there will be a reduced number of accidents and fatal accidents that lead to the death of individuals. A step that could be taken in order to reduce the number of deaths and promote drivers education is making it a graduation requirement for all high school students across our country. If each high school student takes the drivers safety course by the end of their freshman year, our country could guarantee that each permit driver has been given the tools and opportunities to be a prepared driver. Along with that when individuals go to renew their license, they could be given a short test to make sure that they are updated on the different ways that they can be a safe driver. My last suggestion on how we could reduce the number of deaths from fatal accidents is by making it a requirement for all restaurants, or their facilities that serve alcohol, give breathalyzer tests to the person responsible for driving home. By doing this we could prevent many drunk driving instances from occurring and not only protect that driver, but also the other drivers on the road at that time.

Unfortunately, I have witnessed members of my family and my friends driving irresponsibly. Despite that it may have been something as small as texting while driving, the impact that the small decision could possibly leave would be much bigger. I have seen many of my friends be guilty of texting and driving. Although thankfully none of them have been in a fatal car accident from texting and driving, it only takes one time to change the lives of many forever. According to the National Safety Council, the use of cell phones while driving is the cause of 1.6 million crashes each year. After doing the math you would find out that using a cell phone while driving is why one out of four crashes occur each year. If everyone was being completely honest, more of us would be guilty than not of checking or being on our phone at least once in our life while driving. Despite that this one or few times did not lead to a crash, it doesn’t eliminate the possibility that it will happen the next time. There are many ways that we can improve staying off our phones while driving. Along with that there are many steps that everyone can take to be a better and safer driver as well as help others become safer on the road.

First and foremost, a way that everyone can avoid being on their phones is turning on the “do not disturb while driving” application on your phone. Most phone programs have already implemented this and by promoting driving safety even more we can encourage more phone brands to do the same. I know personally I have this setting turned on and it has helped me avoid the temptation of being on my phone while driving multiple times. Another step that we could all take is knowing our route. If you are not driving in an area that you are familiar with, it is important to check your route before you actually begin to drive to prevent yourself from being an hesitant driver. The last thing that I am going to discuss is probably one of the most simple things a driver can do in order to stay safe. Just simply follow the speed limit. Today’s society is constantly in a rush in every single aspect, including getting the next place. It’s hard not to want to speed when you are late to your destination, but it is better to go the speed limit and get there safely than not to arrive at all.

Not a single person ever wants to receive that call that their loved one will not be coming home. Fortunately, there are steps and actions that everyone can make in order to promote and encourage drivers safety. Person by person and step by step, our nation can grow into a safer place for everyone.