Speaking out against reckless drivers

Driving education is something that everyone should go through every few years to be reminded of the rules and laws. Being educated and taught how to drive safely not only prevents your death, but other people on the road as well. There are many rules in place to ensure the safety of everyone on the road, but people still ignore it. No one wants to get a call telling them that their loved one or family member was in an accident. We can reduce the number of driving-related deaths by paying more attention, following proper driving procedures, and most importantly, no drinking or texting while driving.

Some of the most common causes of car accidents are by people who are drinking and driving, or those who are under the influence of drugs while one the road. There are many substances that can cloud your mind, and those are the two most lethal ones while driving. According to google, around 1.5 million people a year are arrested and given DUI’s because they were under the influence of substances while driving. Not only do these people not care for their safety while doing this, but they are risking the lives of everyone else on the road when they are falling asleep at the wheel, or swerving all around the roads because they are not in their right mind. I believe an extreme way to reduce the number of driving related deaths is to put a breathalyzer in all cars, not just the ones who have DUI’s on record. This not only helps prevent multiple offenses, but it is a safety precaution. A simpler way is to make people retake the knowledge and skills test every few years to refresh their minds on what they should be doing while driving.

There have been many times in my life where I have heard either a stranger or a family friend complains that their license was suspended or taken away because they got a DUI. They put themselves in that position, not only endangering their lives, but others as well. They did not have the common sense to realize that lives could have been taken that they because they decided to drink and drive. Instead of feeling remorse or reflecting on their actions, they are complaining because they cannot drive anywhere. I believe that there should be harsher laws and consequences in place for those who are caught drinking and driving.

Car accidents are a scary thing to witness, and to be a part of. When I was young, I was in a car with my mom and a few of our cousins. We were in a residential street that had a speed limit of 25 mph. We got t-boned by a car who was speeding behind us, and we swerved into a fence of an apartment complex. Luckily none of us were seriously injured, but I still remember the day every time I look at my mom’s old beaten-up car. It is scary to think about how more than our car could have been damaged and we could have lost of lives. There have also been times where I was in a car with someone who liked to race any car they saw, and I was always scared that I had a high chance of losing my life when I got in a car with them. They still have not learned their lesson and have not stopped racing on highways or residential streets, but I am glad that I am no longer in the car with them, and I hope no one else is either. Even though street racing can seem like a fun and adrenaline filled activity, it is illegal and highly dangerous to those in the race, and those who are just driving home, or any pedestrian that might get hurt because they cannot stop in time.

Car accidents can still happen even if myself or others are practicing self-driving. Some people on the road have no common sense, and they do not pay attention to their surroundings. They run red lights, or they turn into a busy intersection and get mad because they got into a car accident when they did not have the right of way. I can be a better driver by paying attention to my surrounds and the road laws, and by driving to the speed limit and turning when I am supposed to. I can speak out against unsafe driving and help teach others how to be safer on the road by giving them tips, and reminding them of the consequences of bad driving. If I see a hit and run driver, I can try to get their plates and call the police, as well as help the ones who were in the accident get the help they need. Car related deaths in America need to greatly be decreased, and I hope one day that we can see a decline in accidents and unsafe driving.