Driver Safety: Who Is Really Impacted?

Drivers ed is crucial for every driver, teaching traffic laws and the hazards of handling a moving vehicle. New drivers entering the road without knowledge of vehicle handling will manage the car dangerously, increasing the chances of incidents. However, if operators remember that they are responsible for not only their own lives but other passengers and drivers on the road too, they will act more cautiously. Unfortunately, many ignore basic rules when driving, and casualties occur. More than 38,000 die of crashes in the U.S. alone, according to the Association for Safe International Road Travel. To reduce traffic deaths, we must consider the value of drivers ed and acknowledge that rules and regulations protect the handler along with everyone in the vicinity, including pedestrians and bicyclists.

In addition to lack of education, unfocused driving also puts everybody at risk, regardless of how minor the distraction may seem. Responsible operators avoid phone use behind the wheel and never drive after ingesting alcohol. In 2018, 2,841 people died in accidents from drivers using electronic devices, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Simply switching off notifications on your phone before starting the car can save lives. Although some consider quick glances at the screen harmless, the reality is that disaster can strike within seconds. The lasting damage, whether physical or emotional, can be permanent. The same can be said for alcohol consumption. As reported by the CDC, in 2016, drunk driving claimed the lives of 10,497, 28% of traffic related casualties—10,497 families and friends were affected. It is not difficult to leave your car and call a taxi or ride share. Unfortunately, many deaths are preventable; individuals are killed every day from poor decisions.

Thankfully, I have not experienced an accident, but my mother is less fortunate; an incident left her permanently disabled. A student lost control of their car and hit her. My mother spent years in the hospital healing from a broken spine. The doctors said she needed a wheelchair. However, she refused to accept this, and learned to walk again, though she has a limp. I never realized my mother had not overcome this traumatic experience until she told me how frustrated she was that I refused to use our jump rope when exercising even though I could jump.

As long as there are cars, there will always be accidents, but as long as I have control, I ensure that those around me will not become one of the 38,000 that die yearly. Since my father has severe road rage, I learned not to develop the same habits because it is terrifying. When I cannot think properly, I risk lives. We should not depend on others to be responsible when driving; we need to take responsibility ourselves. For others become safer on the road, we must all be aware of the effects and the irreversible damage that results from accidents. Spreading awareness about it emphasizes how serious owning a vehicle is, and the obligations that come with.

Work Cited

Road Safety Facts. (2020, April 13). Retrieved July 17, 2020, from https://www.asirt.org/safe-travel/road-safety-facts/

Impaired Driving: Get the Facts. (2019, March 22). Retrieved July 17, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/impaired_driving/impaired-drv_factsheet.html

Currin, A. (2020, March 06). U Drive. U Text. U Pay. Retrieved July 17, 2020, from https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving

The Dangers of Distracted Driving. (2020, May 26). Retrieved July 18, 2020, from https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/dangers-texting-while-driving

On The Road. (2020). Retrieved July 18, 2020, from https://www.nsc.org/road-safety/safety-topics/distracted-driving

Distracted Driving. (2019, September 16). Retrieved July 19, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/distracted_driving/index.html