Why is Road Safety Important?

Many drivers don’t know this scary fact, but in America, an average of 34,000 people die each year from driving. That death count is higher than the total death count of soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan combined (5,660 deaths in total). It gets worse as research has further shown that the number of Americans who died from driving within two years is more than the total of American deaths from the Vietnam war (which would mean it’s more than 47,424 deaths!). Driving causes more deaths each year than in the three of the most notorious wars in which the U.S got involved. It sheds a scary light on our negligence when being on the road. That is terrifying to learn, especially for newer drivers. It is ever the more important to educate drivers about needing to be safe on the road unless they want to contribute to the death count.

Driver education is essential in preventing deaths from driving ever occurring if it wasn’t clear from the death count stated before. But how exactly can people possibly die from driving? Car accidents caused by drinking and driving and texting and driving are some of the most notorious causes of death associated with driving. Other driving-related accidents which can result in death include car crashes in general, whether it involves pedestrians or simply the driver(s) themselves. These driving-related accidents are all caused by one key thing: a lack of awareness of road safety. Do you know why the DMV takes road safety tests incredibly seriously? Just like how if you don’t know the safety procedures in making a meal, it can send people to the hospital due to food poisoning; sending people on the road with no instructions on road safety is just asking for thousands of lives to be lost. The best steps that we as drivers can take to avoid being the cause of someone’s death as a result of driving are to take road safety classes, as a first step. Next is to NEVER drive a vehicle after consuming alcohol or taking drugs, and to ESPECIALLY never to go on your phone or any other cellular device when busy driving. With these simple steps in mind, you’re saving lives and protecting the safety of pedestrians, including others that are also on the road.

I do not have a license or even a permit to start driving (in fact, as I’m typing this essay right now, I’m currently studying to receive my driver’s permit). Therefore, I do not have my own stories where I was in a situation where I was driving irresponsibly. However, I do know of a time when my mom and stepfather had once gotten into an accident that resulted in our old car being unable to drive again. Neither I, nor my younger brother was in the car, and no one was hurt or killed in the accident. However, after writing this essay, I can safely say that I know what have to do to avoid being one of the many people responsible for someone’s death because of negligent driving. First, I will study and make sure I pass the permit test. Not only so I’ll be able to drive in the future, but also to ensure that my knowledge of road safety is secure. Next, I vow to never drive after consuming drugs and or alcohol. Not only would this be a risk to my health and wellbeing, but it puts the lives of others at risk as well. Lastly, I will NEVER text or use my cell phone whenever I’m driving. If I do just that, I’m only going to put myself and other pedestrians and drivers in danger. By holding onto these three promises, I’m ensuring myself that I’ll become a better and safer driver, and keeping the safety of those on the road well intact.

So to summarize, the reason why understanding road safety is so essential is that you’re protecting the well-being of not only yourself but for other pedestrians and drivers. We can become better and safer drivers on the road by understanding road safety, and taking road safety classes to further our understanding; never drive after consuming alcohol and or drugs; and never text or use our cellular devices while driving. When more people are dying from car accidents than soldiers that had died from both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars combined each year, it’s our responsibility as drivers to take road safety seriously unless we want to contribute to the death count. Do your part in keeping those on the road safe, including yourself.