Take A Gamble

It is a well-known fact that driving can lead to accidents, that is surprising is that more people do not care about trying to protect themselves from it. How likely is it that one day you could be the victim of a fatal crash due to the fault of another or yourself? How can you protect yourself from dangerous situations while driving if it is so risky? Is it going to get better, and, if so, when? That is what I want to discuss with the world.

Based on statistics provided by the National Security Council, 38,800 people die every year from driving-related accidents. That means that you have a 1 in 5,864 chance of dying every time you get behind the wheel. In some states, this number is even worse. Maine has a 35% increase in fatalities. If you drove every day for 15 years, you would be involved in at least one collision causing a fatal injury. Being in a deadly motor vehicle accident is only slightly less likely than dying of cancer. That is unacceptable. What’s worse is that the total number of motor vehicle deaths in a year is close to double the total number of deaths from COVID 19.

There is no doubt that these are grim numbers, and by looking at your chances, you might think that the best thing to do is stay at home and never expose yourself to danger. However, it does not mean we are defenseless against roadway hazards. Schools around the country are cracking down on safe driving and other behaviors. If teens and adults alike pay attention and follow correct safety procedures like responsible drivers. Then they will be less likely to suffer an accident. The truth of driving, it is not a societal badge or a game for you to play. It is a necessary risk for the people who need it.

There is hope for the seemingly lost practice of safe driving. The number of driving accidents has been decreasing steadily in the past years. That is due to increased safety measures for cars and more driving laws related to safety. Some sites like the National Security Council see as much as a 2 percent decrease yearly. Continuing this pattern in a mere thirty years, we will have a forty-five percent drop in fatal accidents. Thirty years might also be long enough for self-driving cars to become popularized, which will change the previous statistics in our collective favor.

Licenses are simultaneously a blessing and a curse, a broadening of horizons, and a deadly trap. To those who do not understand the risks find themselves the victims of horrible tragedies. That does not have to be the case if anyone with a license to drive, can drive well, and is aware of the risks involved. Use every advantage you can, get a safe car, practice on closed courses, and use the safety functions provided. That will be what protects you, foresight, anticipation, and better decisions. Hopefully, this message is read by some kid with a license and maybe, just maybe, get taken to heart.