Knowledge Can Save a Life

Even a short, five-minute drive can wind up fatal if the participants on the road do not understand the magnitude of operating a vehicle. Driving a car seems like the simplest task because so many people take part in this activity daily, however, 34,000 people die from it in a single year. Each and every one of these individuals who die due to vehicular circumstances have friends, family, and coworkers who are also impacted by their passing. Every life matters, and in order to preserve those lives, driver education needs to be emphasized because people are forgetting just how dangerous vehicles are.

Personally, I have been impacted by accidents that family members have been involved in. My aunt, for instance, got into a wreck and had to be airlifted out. She barely lived. This is an example of just how dangerous cars can be. I also have a family friend who was in a motorcycle accident. It was a simple case of a driver disregarding the bike, and proceeding to hit him. He was in the hospital for a month, had to undergo multiple surgeries, and suffered immensely. Each of these incidents is the reason that I drive safely, cautiously, and always aware. Hurting a person due to carelessness or lack of proper education is a problem that must be addressed.

New drivers are often blissfully unaware of just how dangerous operating a vehicle can be. As one gets comfortable driving, they also tend to be less aware of the situations they are putting themselves and others in. Driver education is an extremely important step in the process of limiting the number of deaths. Educating a future driver, and current drivers, on the dangers of the road is what will allow people to commute safely. Taking further steps, in order to reach out to the portion of the population that is already driving is crucial to keep the death numbers down. This is because as people gain more experience on the road, they tend to not be as cautious. Reaching this portion of the population through driver education may be key in lowering the death toll of driving.

In order to do my part in the fight against unsafe driving, I must be very precautionary about getting behind the wheel. Before I get into the car, I make sure that there is nothing to distract me, and that I am aware of my surroundings. In order to spread awareness about the cause, I will remind my friends and family to be safe while driving, and speak up when I witness unsafe behavior. Another step in preventing deaths due to driving is speaking with those close to you. Remind them of the seriousness that driving entails, and encourage them to choose to be safe while on the road.