The effects and solutions of traffic deaths.

Driving is one of the most dangerous actions in the world, and many people would be shocked at the number of deaths each year because of car accidents. From 2005-2007, more than 120000 people died from car accidents, that is more than the deaths of World War I and Vietnam War combined! We have to take actions in order to reduce the number of deaths as a result of driving, such as implementing Driver education into all school districts and other steps that are necessary to stop this from happening.

One of the many ways that makes driving so dangerous is when a driver is behind the wheel while under influence. I have seen and heard of numerous cases throughout the world on my local news station, in which drivers who were under the influence of alcohol or marijuana got themselves into dangerous car accidents and resulted in them being killed or serious injury to them or vehicle that they hit. These stories I have learned changed my entire perspective on the situation, and I now know what I must do to avoid this from happening.

Another way of distracted driving is using a cell phone while driving, which includes calling, texting, or any other form of communication while having your hands on your phone. The reason why this is so dangerous is that you do not realize how long you are staring at your phone for. For example, if someone is going 55 miles per hour and they look at their phone and make a quick text for a couple seconds, they are not looking at the road for hundreds of feet. There could be an animal such as a deer crossing the street or even a person may be crossing the road. There are also the dangers of other cars swerving into your lane when you are not paying attention or even you slowly swerve into the other lane, which can cause major catastrophe.

These are serious problems we have in our world today, so it is a necessity to make steps to reduce the number of deaths. One way we can reduce the number of deaths because of driving is by putting driver education into all schools and making it mandatory for all students to take. This will allow all the students to get a high-quality instruction of what to do while they are behind the wheel, and what not to do if you plan on driving later, such as the consumption of alcohol. With the hands-on practice that they will receive at drivers ed, it will allow them to become the best driver they can possibly be and reduce the number of deaths due to driving.

There are also common and easy steps you can take to reduce your chances of getting into an accident. These steps include making sure you always have your seat belt on. Making sure your seat belt is on always will restrain you from leaving the vehicle if you get into an accident, which could ultimately save your life. Many car accidents include the driver and the passenger being flown out through the windshield and leading to death. Another step you can take is to limit the number of passengers you have with you on a trip. If you are a new driver, it is best to limit the number of passengers you have. You can also try to avoid or limit your night driving. Car accidents at night happen way more often than accidents in the daytime. If you are not experienced driving at night, then wait until the daytime, where it is more comfortable to drive. You can also train for poor weather conditions. If it is raining or snowing or frigid temperatures, you can practice driving on these conditions by going much slower than you normally go and keep a wider gap between you and the car in front of you, and to apply your brake much earlier and smoother to avoid skidding. These are the common steps you can take to avoid a traffic-related death.

I personally have never had the experience of being in a car accident, but I have friends that have been in them and have changed their life dramatically. One of my friends was involved in a car accident when he was in 6^th grade and it still impacts him to this day. He damaged his left pelvis, and he has to limit how much he can involve himself in sports before it starts to bother him too much and has to go into physical therapy and chiropractic treatment regularly. Even though I have never been in a car accident myself, I know the consequences that can go along with it.

I plan to become a better and safer driver by implementing these steps I mentioned already and applying them to the way I drive. I will also make sure to tell my friends who also have their drivers license about these steps and how they will significantly reduce their chances of dying from a car accident. Doing this will make the driving world a better and safer place and hopefully end up reducing the total number of traffic deaths in the world.