Britton Carver

America’s
Deadliest Killer
Everyone’s
sixteenth birthday is something special; an iconic milestone is
achieved, and, in many states, you can finally earn your driver’s
license. The ultimate form of liberation, the coming of age, the
additional responsibility you desire. While all of these positive
qualities of a driver’s license are gained, so are the negative
ones. My name is Britton Carver and I am a senior at Nevada State
High School. I plan to attend South Dakota School of Mines and
Technology to get my degree in mechanical engineering and I dream of
designing the next greatest car. I marvel at the incredible
engineering of all cars, and it saddens me to see just how many
people die in this way. More than quadruple the number of people die
on our own roads each year than in the entirety of the Revolutionary
War. America’s deadliest killer truly is unsafe driving. Most of us
rely on our vehicle for transportation, but the risk is often
unrealized and kicked under the rug. Reducing the number of deaths on
the road should be the number one priority while driving.
Everything
begins with drivers ed. This course should not only teach the
ever-important rules of the road, but also help new drivers
understand the risk they are taking each time they switch the
ignition. Far too many people drive in bliss of the vast number of
deaths each year. If everyone recognized the risk of death, we could
foster a safer road environment. Furthermore, drivers ed should
teach healthy habits of operating a vehicle. These habits include
refraining from touching all technology, including navigation,
keeping the volume low, checking all directions multiple times per
minute, wearing your seatbelt, and keeping your attention on the road
alone. These steps alone could save countless lives. Another less
common tip to stay safe on the road is to drive a vehicle with a
manual transmission. This requires much more attention to your
environment around you and will keep your hands busy – and free of
any distractions. The bottom line is to drive like your life depends
on it.


Personally,
I have observed family members practice unsafe driving. Everything
from using their phone to operating their maps while the car is in
motion, and even surpassing the posted speed limit. I recognize that
these behaviors contribute to serious crashes, no matter just how
seemingly small of a distraction it makes. Unfortunately, this was
the cause of a very serious crash I witnessed. I was driving on the
highway when two cars next to me collided. Metal scraps flew
everywhere and the noise it made was horrific. This experience taught
me just how feeble both we and our cars are. To be a better and safer
driver, I will be a role model in conducting safe driving behavior. I
will set an example to others by following the steps and tips to
ensure our collective safety. Together, we can work on our driving to
make crashes an anomaly.