Name: Connor Shelton
From: Toledo, OH
Votes: 0
The
Risk
Everyday
we take a risk. Right when the key unlocks our car it also unlocks
the potential to harmful damage through the terrors of reckless
driving. In 2005, negligent driving led to the deaths of more than
40,000 individuals, nearly equivalent to the amount of lives lost in
the Korean and American Civil War (41, 686 deaths (source
a)).
We are continuing to create our own war within our country, producing
more fatalities than physical warfare.
When
a young driver receives their license they’re ecstatic to joyride
on the open road… but they don’t always realize that cars can be
a dangerous mechanism if not used wisely. Those who take drivers
education are more aware of the impact of their actions in the
vehicle; studies show that young drivers who did not complete a
course are 75 percent more likely to receive a traffic violation and
24 percent more likely to be involved in an accident or fatal injury
(source
b).
The greatest cause of these accidents is due to drunk driving, with a
staggering portion of 32% of fatalities being related to alcohol
(source
c).
This percentage could be greatly reduced through drivers ed
encouraging students to become more responsible.
Those
who decide to drink must realize the toll alcohol takes on their
body. It severely impairs one’s sense of judgment and coordination,
to the point where it is challenging for some to even walk; if
alcohol creates difficulty in simply walking on two feet how could
someone expect to control an entire vehicle if they can’t even
control their own bodies. Many services offer rides to those who are
impaired, so it’s a wise decision to utilize these services, or
even just asking a sober friend for one. It is crucial that drivers
remain faithful to never get behind the wheel drunk, it is not worth
the precious life of you or others around you. Even if someone does
survive the dangers of drunk driving a DUI can ruin the rest of your
life. If drivers are constantly reminded of the perils of drunk
driving then this would significantly lower the percentage of traffic
fatalities.
Unfortunately,
I’ve had my own terrifying experience with driving when I got in an
accident. My friends all shouted and pointed outside the car to
someone that they knew, and the split second I looked away the car in
front of me slammed on their brakes; after that I learned the
importance of always keeping your eyes on the road and even the
slightest distraction can lead to a possible fatality. I never want
to experience anything like that again or anyone else to, so I always
practice and encourage safe driving techniques. The most important
steps I follow to maintain my safe driving is: not checking my phone,
using voice commands, maintaining a safe distance and speed, and
never driving under the influence. Follow these steps of safe driving
and we can cease this war of traffic fatalities.
Citations:
Source
A: “Scholarship.” DmvEdu.org,
www.dmvedu.org/scholarship/.
Source
B: University of Nebraska-Lincoln. “Study: Drivers Ed
Significantly Reduces Teen Crashes, Tickets.” Study:
Drivers Ed Significantly Reduces Teen Crashes, Tickets | News
Releases | University of Nebraska-Lincoln,
newsroom.unl.edu/releases/2015/08/13/Study:+Driver’s+ed+significantly+reduces+teen+crashes,+tickets.
Source
C: “Car Accident Statistics.” Aceable,
www.aceable.com/safe-driving/car-accident-statistics/.
“Car
Accident Statistics.” Aceable,
www.aceable.com/safe-driving/car-accident-statistics/.
