Fundamentals of Reducing Deaths on the Road

Zion Green

6/13/2020

Drivers ed is the most vital part when it comes to driving. As hinted in the name itself, drivers ed exists to help us, who want to drive to understand the regulations of the road before being able to drive legally and freely. Though drivers ed teaches us how to become a sufficient driver, it also tells us about the fatalities that exist on the road with error. I once witnessed a slight collision outside of my highschool one morning, where a driver of one car got his rear bumper knocked off. The full incident between the two cars was that the driver with the knocked off bumper forgot to look and signal they were turning left before pulling out. Due to this error, he did not see another car heading straight, and crashed right into the car. If the driver both looked to his left to see the car coming and signaled to pull out, this accident would’ve been avoided. This is why drivers ed is two parts. The first, being required to show road expertise by taking a written exam, then demonstrating your skills six months or so later in the driving exam. Now, I think the biggest step that could be taken to reduce driving deaths, is an increase in the number of traffic officers on the road. Statistics show that roughly 1.3 million people die from car accidents. The two leading factors for these deaths have been alcohol intoxication and speeding. Having more traffic officers on the road, I believe this would lead to a decrease in speeding because drivers will be guided by officers to get through intersections safely. Not everyone on the road obeys traffic laws clearly, but having another edge can possibly work. I know personally that some steps that I can take to ensure the safety of myself and others when driving is to simply: be responsible, be accountable, and be aware. Paying attention to my surroundings on the road will help me get to my destinations safer. If I encounter an eager driver on the road who wants to get in front of me, it’s better for my sake to just let them instead of disrupting traffic flow. Lastly, when being old enough to drink alcohol if I choose to, I have to be smart about when and how much I consume to still perform at a regular pace. Those are the steps that I can and will take to be a safe driver on the road.