Save Lives and the Environment

Save Lives and the Environment

We’ve all heard of
the five freedoms in the Bill of Rights, but the most essential
freedom we love is the freedom to drive. Driving allows us to get
from one place to another at our convenience and at our will. Driving
has always been a sign of social mobility and freedom since it’s
popularity in the 1920’s. But as highways became more advanced,
spreading itself across the country, driving is no longer a commodity
of the past but a necessity for the present and the future.

As driving is
becoming more mainstream it’s important to ensure that all drivers
are educated and in good control of their vehicle. But despite all
the rules and regulations set in place for drivers, accidents and car
crashes are still a leading cause in deaths in the United States.
This is why more awareness is necessary to prevent devastating
fatalities. I also believe that there is an alternative solution to
prevent car-related accidents, ‘Carpools’ and ‘Public
Transportation’. With rising technologies like Ride-Share apps,
people can carpool to work or just get a ride if their senses are
impaired. This will reduce the number of cars on the street and also
prevent the leading cause for car crashes: drunk driving/DUI.
Moreover, using public transportation and carpools is good for the
environment because there’s less usage of fuel(less cars on the
street), thus resulting in less fuel emissions, which could end up
saving both people’s lives and the environment.

Personally, I don’t
have a car because we live in a city where transportation runs
frequently. Saving a couple bucks isn’t worth risking lives. I feel
good about paying to use my city’s transportation because I know
I’m helping the local economy and the environment.

Nonetheless, we need
to educate drivers on defensive driving and rules/regulations in
their state to lower the risk of fatalities. We should also give
incentives to safe drivers like tax-cuts or gov’t stipends, so more
people are inclined to stop driving if they are under-the-influence,
or still need practice in using their vehicle.

Lastly, it’s
important to recognize the people who have lost their lives due to
car accidents. They aren’t just numbers in a statistic, they are
lessons we should learn. Each and every life that was lost should
bring us more alertness/awareness for preventing another fatality in
the future. We must also thank the first-responders and families who
share stories of such incidents to prevent injuries in the future.