From personal experience, speed is the number one factor that causes these fatal accidents involving cars. Drugs, Alcohol, phones and even other people also play a key role and all of these together connect to why both the fatality rate and the number of accidents have risen so dramatically in the past few decades. In my Life I have seen irresponsible drivers who would speed, not use their blinker and cut people off and I have seen responsible drivers still succumb to their own impatience and end up crashing and/or totalling their vehicle.
Driver's education is our only safeguard against these accidents. Showing why driving safety is important and why one must follow the laws of the road for their sake and others, however there are many flaws. The brevity of the class is so apparent that it often goes unnoticed and is just a way for students to slog through to get their driver's license. Many teachers would give huge packets and call it teaching, or showing videos while students scroll on their phones. Neither of these approaches work to the benefit of the driver and often make for more irresponsibility. When a driver gets on the road, they may not know what a shared left turn lane is, or what a flashing red light means. This is in part the fault of the driver who did not research the material given, but also the fault of the teacher who did not give instructions and claim the attention of the students and because of that, incompetent drivers and dangerous drivers are created.
Imprinting safety on a driver is the number one way in which crashes, fender benders, hit and runs, and even fatal accidents can be avoided. More engaging and strict teachers to show the rules of the road, and having a curriculum that focuses more on the impact of their actions through simulated events or more pictures shown of fatalities. At the age of 16 or 17, one must know the result of the choices they make, especially if that choice can impact a life. Bringing in people who have witnessed, been involved in, and/or caused accidents to talk and explain to these new drivers what it actually means to get behind a wheel. From personal experience, talking with people who have had these interactions and being one of those people who have had those interactions, this is one of the best ways to encourage safer driving and can directly impact the fatality rate by bringing safer drivers on the road.
For those who have been a driver for many years, these changes are far more difficult. My own father for instance has to be constantly reminded to put on his seat belt and he has been that way for as long as I can remember. This comes from both repetition and laziness both stemming from the undesirable act of changing. As hard as it is to repair damage that has already been done by these drivers and to work to fix any future altercations, there are ways one can do. What worked for up-in-coming drivers may also work for seasoned drivers and even adding more to them by having them talk to grieving parents who they can connect with, or others like them who lost family members. There are many ways to discourage unsafe driving, for instance more police involvement, harsher punishments or as mentioned before, the emotional aspect, but human nature will always persist to negate this work. This is why focusing on the youth may not have an impact currently, but will inevitably reduce accidents on the road and make for a safer environment. They are not encumbered by repetition yet and can still be taught how to act on the road. I for one have seen the damage unsafe driving can cause and have learned to change my habits.
One such time while on 95, a car tailgating my father slammed on their brakes which led to the car behind them crashing into their back bumper, causing the tailgating car to swerve, hit the guard rail and completely flip through the air. While no one died and the worst that came out of the accident were a few broken bones and two totaled cars, impatience and overconfidence led to this. Had the tailgating car been closer, my dad and I would have been involved as well, resulting in further injury and damage. This is not only the fault of those drivers, but my father as well was going 15 over the speed limit and swerving in and out of cars. Anyone of those cars could have done the same as the one which crashed and the result would have been the same. Roadways are meant for safe travel for all and not the cacophony of dangers many drivers turn it into.
Of course, I have also been known to speed from time to time, driving ten and sometimes 15 miles over in certain situations, but more accurately going about five over. Either way, the speed limits and laws are there for important safety reasons and those are just for when conditions are optimal. The act of driving is given to many students who drive as their parents do, or as recklessly as possible to seem cool or dangerous, however that often leads to their own pain and damage to their vehicle. After seeing these kinds of crashes and these people who drive so treacherously, the act of driving safely is not only a must, but a must for all or else the fatalities will continue and not stop. Much of this is based on the receptiveness of people and how they would go about fixing the problem. Even just putting one’s seat belt on could result in less death on the road but only if one is willing to listen and learn the safety of the road, and that starts with molding the youth to this. Giving the young the tools to grow and become safer drivers is what will inevitably create a safer road.