Know the Risks

Kyle Stone

Know the Risks

Upon reading the National Driving and Traffic School’s description of this scholarship program, I was appalled by the shocking statistic presented on the site’s home page: more people die each year from car accidents than U.S. soldiers died in combat fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan combined. This alone calls for unified initiative to ensure all American citizens and licensed drivers are educated in the realm of safe driving. Individuals should most be educated about the dangers of operating a motor vehicle under these three conditions: distraction, fatigue, and intoxication. Only then can we hope to improve our roadways and make America’s primary form of transportation the safest it has ever been.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a whopping 9% of motor vehicle deaths are related to distracted driving. Whether it be texting, fidgeting with the radio, eating, or just observing the scenery, distraction on the freeway is an atrocious evil that must be ceased. If an everyday person learns that something as simple as changing the radio station from pop music sensations to that nail-biting football game can result in the loss of a human life, he or she will be much more wary of the stereo the next time said person goes out on a drive. While built-in bluetooth hotspots and obstruction alarms have certainly aided in reducing accidents resulting from distraction, this new technology is by no means the end all be all. School-run awareness projects, well-crafted local commercials, and other community service efforts can effectively raise consciousness about the dangers of distracted driving. We cannot downplay what is capable of causing such catastrophes.

Sleepiness. Drowsiness. Fatigue. While these phenomena may not account for as many driving deaths each year as distraction, it remains vital that licensed drivers are aware of the risks presented here. Sleep deprivation has been scientifically proven to slow reaction times and impair visual attention, with one in six traffic accidents occurring due to driver drowsiness (AAA, 2010). I recently looked into a study conducted by Virginian scientists researching the effects of sleep deprivation on auto crashes. The investigation compared two groups of Virginia teens, the first of which started school over an hour earlier in the morning than the other. The former batch suffered significantly more crashes than the other, likely due to a lack of sufficient sleep. What can be done to curb this woe? Promoting a healthy eight hours of sleep per night and increased awareness of our circadian rhythm can certainly diminish annual accidents related to drowsy driving. Proper sleep habits will not only make the roads safer, but prevent excessive weight gain, strengthen our immune system, and provide a general boost to our daily moods. Sleep more, crash less.

Lastly, the depressant drug known as alcohol stands as a prime instigator in many car wrecks. The slowed neural processing, disrupted memory functions, and inhibited self-awareness that alcohol carries contributes to the deaths of over 10,000 Americans per year. When under the heavy influence of alcohol, people feel invincible, an emotion that follows them to their behavior behind the wheel. How can drunk driving accidents be prevented? While the constant appointment of a “designated driver” for social events can be useful, it is always better to not even ATTEMPT to drive after consuming the slightest droplet of alcohol. I highly doubt that I am alone in thinking it is far better to pay thirty bucks for an uber or hotel room than it is to be dead. If the harmful effects of alcohol consumption are promoted on a widespread level, we as a society will move one step closer to minimizing the yearly deaths as a result of intoxicated driving.

Personally, I have witnessed many scenarios of people driving irresponsibly. Whether it be speeding, not checking their surroundings, or becoming distracted, I have seen firsthand the dangers of hazardous driving. Simply telling someone “slow down,” “look around you,” or “eyes on the road” is not enough. When I drive, I follow an overly cautious albeit effective approach. I divide the forthcoming environment into separate zones and anticipate what lies ahead. If I see a car in front of me suddenly break, I break. If I see the headlights of another vehicle pop on from a side road, I slow down in case the driver were to abruptly swerve onto the street. I am constantly looking in all directions. I will stare directly ahead for a few seconds, then shift my field of vision to my right for a brief moment, then to my left, then to my rearview mirrors, then to my speedometer, and finally back to straight ahead. This strategy has thus far prevented me from ever partaking in a car accident in the nearly two years I have spent operating a motor vehicle. Our highways can never be too safe, but driver education will undoubtedly help to make these roads a better place.

Sources

Admin. “The Leading Causes of Car Accidents.” Waterdown Collision, 26 June 2020, waterdowncollision.com/safe-driving/leading-causes-of-car-accidents/?doing_wp_cron = 1605901206.5564730167388916015625.

Brown, Harry. “Leading Causes of Car Accidents With Statistics.” JD Supra, 19 Dec. 2018, www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/leading-causes-of-car-accidents-with-60370/.

Myers, David G., and C. Nathan DeWall. Psychology. Worth Publishers, 2020.