Accident Reduction Through Technology and Society

Accident
Reduction Through Technology and Society

Proper
drivers’ education is paramount in reducing the amount of deaths
while driving, as it uses firsthand accounts of car crashes to teach
the importance of responsible vehicle operation. These accounts link
the roadway casualties statistics that are seen every year in the
media with actual names and stories of those whose lives were either
ended or permanently changed by simple mistakes made behind the
wheel. These courses instill a sense within new drivers that in a
crash, it is not just you
that
is affected. Though these anecdotes are not the primary focus of
education within driving courses, they provide a sense that tragedy
can happen to anyone, motivating new students to completely implement
the safe driving practices in their daily lives. I believe that the
two biggest factors that will reduce car crash deaths are
technological advancement and societal involvement. The development
of new safety features in automobiles today both prevent and lessen
the effects of car crashes on the driver and passengers. Collision
detection systems force the vehicle to stop movement before an
imminent crash, helping to lessen the impact and reduce damages.
Indicators that identify speed limits or potential hazards are also
becoming commonplace in new models of cars, all of which help reduce
accidents on the road. Encouraging the development of technologies
such as this will continue the trend of reduced fatal accidents in
newer vehicles. Societal involvement can also play a key role in
reducing automobile related deaths. Much like the anti-smoking ads of
the 2000s and 2010s, if the population universally renounces common
unsafe driving practices, new generations will not follow the cycle
of irresponsibility, reducing collisions accordingly. Personally, my
mother was in a non-lethal car accident last fall, and her car was
totaled. Though she had no lasting injuries due to her vehicle’s
safety systems, the emotional trauma lasted well into the next year.
My friends and family members usually drive responsibility, and
almost never get in accidents, but some situations have arisen due to
a lack of focus on the road. I take steps to personally prevent these
occurrences by keeping my focus on the road, no matter who I am with.
As a passenger, I also avoid directly interfering with the driver, no
matter how experienced. Due to the inherent danger, I have on
multiple occasions asked for the driver to stay off his or her phone,
as nothing on the device is as important as the safety of those they
are closest to.