Crash Course

Driving is essential for basic day-to-day living, from getting groceries to going to school or work. Life would be much more difficult without the luxury of modern transportation. Driving in particular comes with risk and can be fatal. An estimated 38,000 people died in car-related accidents in 2019 alone, which is more than the number of American casualties in the Korean War. Although accidents cannot be completely avoided, the number of auto-related deaths can be decreased. The largest single factor in reducing fatalities is education. One simple habit is wearing a seatbelt. This alone has saved an estimated 15,000 lives in 2017. Unfortunately, half of the people that died in car crashes that year were not wearing seatbelts. Teaching new drivers the importance of seatbelts as not just a law, but a life-saving device could significantly decrease the number of deaths. Generally, inexperienced young drivers are involved in more accidents.

Being a safer driver comes down to being more attentive and there are a few habits that can strengthen a driver’s attention. One of the largest contributors to unsafe driving is texting while driving, which causes ¼ of all crashes in the United States. One solution is having a phone app installed that will not transfer a call or text to the driver unless the sender indicates that it is an emergency. This alleviates the desire to look at every “ping” of an incoming text or call. Secondly, some insurance companies offer a reduced price for coverage if the driver uses a monitor to track their driving habits. This allows them to reward safe drivers with lower rates. People can also become safer by taking a crash course that gives people real-world situations and how to get out of them safely.

Fortunately, I have never been in a car accident. However, last year in a nearby neighborhood, two college students were killed because another driver was texting and ran a stop sign. Although neither of the cars were going very fast, the collision was enough to be fatal. The woman took her eyes off the road for only a few seconds but it was enough for her to push the other car into the intersection and they were hit by on-coming traffic. This tragedy was felt across our community and should have been avoided. Increased education about the dangers of distracted driving and real-life consequences are essential to teach all drivers.

I realize that the privilege of driving comes with responsibility. Failure to follow the basic rules can have severe consequences to me, the people in my car, and others on the road. Early on, I committed to wearing my seatbelt and I require my passengers to do the same. I have been a designated driver and realize the stupidity of driving impaired. Making a conscious effort to give my full attention to the road and not be distracted by my passengers, phone or anything else helps me be a safe driver. I know that accidents can be life-changing and I will do everything I can to be safe on the road.