How To Save Lives on the Road

Xander Iwicki

One of the leading
causes of death in America, especially in the youth, are car
accidents. Around 30,000 people a year are killed by traffic
incidents, more than most wars the U.S has been involved in. Most of
these accidents are caused by driver error and negligence, and we
must take steps in preventing this from happening. We can do this by
teaching drivers ed, stricter enforcement for actions and laws
that can prevent a crash, and improving our own driving skills
independently.

Drivers ed is
often an elective in many high schools, and it is one of the most
important electives one can take. If one takes this class, they will
gain a better understanding of how their vehicle works and the rules
of the road. This knowledge will help in preventing them from making
fatal mistakes on the road. In addition, drivers ed classes
often have you take practice drives, giving you valuable experience
and feedback that will improve your driving skills. Due to these
benefits, those who take drivers ed courses are less likely to
cause accidents due to driver error, and will drive safer overall.

Another way to
reduce the amount of accidents on the highway is by stricter
enforcement of road safety laws. Many people who normally follow the
law run red lights, fail to turn on turn signals, and ignore other
road safety laws because you are less likely to be prosecuted for
these crimes, yet by breaking these laws you may lead to someone’s
death. If we enforce these laws, it will simultaneously remove repeat
offenders for a time and dissuade others from breaking these laws,
thus reducing the amount of accidents caused by driver negligence.

The most important
step, however, is self-improvement. These steps will mean little if
you don’t improve your own driving skills. Years ago, my family and I
were driving home on an icy road, and we slid and got rear ended. It
was the actions of the driver at the time, my mother, that the
accident was not worse, as she stabilized the car before we went off
the road. By always paying attention, following road safety laws,
keeping a cool head, and making sure your vehicle is running at
optimal performance, you can prevent any accidents you could cause.
Teaching these skills to others when they are learning how to drive
will also prevent the overall amount of incidents on the highway.
Even if you are caught in a collision or accident, having your
seatbelt on, airbags working, and brakes ready can prevent it from
turning into a fatal accident.

Driving is
extremely dangerous, and we must do what we can to make it safer and
reduce the amount of vehicle related deaths. By taking driver
education courses, enforcing road safety laws, and improving both
your own skills as well others, we can make the roads and highways a
much safer place for everyone.