With over 3,000 fatal crashes reported in the state of Texas in 2023 alone, it is important to realize the changes that need to take place to reduce that number. The total crash count according to Texas Car Crash Statistician, Benson Varghese, was 558,953 in 2023, which is the equivalent of one accident occurring per minute. Solutions to reduce that insane number is, emphasizing driver’s education, driving on the defense, and attaining self-discipline from technology usage.
Texas is one of the largest states in the United States, naturally with more people residing in the state, the number of car crash incidents are bound to remain high. However, driver education locations are also readily available to serious drivers. The cost of driver’s education remains fair considering how the investment could potentially save a life. Through a face-to-face interaction with a driver education professional, student drivers can truly benefit from learning to maintain a safe distance between their vehicle and others, discovering who has the right of way in different scenarios, and remembering the importance of turn signal usage.
Even if an individual cannot afford driver’s education school, perhaps they can seek out additional help through their family or friends after obtaining a permit. I personally had both of my parents help me drive around our neighborhood in their vehicle for a moment. While I took that safety step to become a safe driver, I evidently lost my patience with the constant, “You need to slow down,” and “Why are you going so fast?” I remember driving the speed limit of twenty miles per hour, however both of my parents held on as if I was driving twice the speed. The solution was clear; an old friend from high school would come to my rescue. She had already obtained her driver’s license and was more patient than any of us. Thanks to her, I not only learned how to be a safe driver, but also learned how there is more than one way to learn how to drive cautiously, whether that is through driver’s education, through family, or a trusted friend.
Defensive driving is another step that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving. In other words, driving with alertness while anticipating problems and reacting in a timely matter. It is never safe to assume a driver will follow the rules of the road, therefore, it is the individual themselves who needs to constantly remain aware of their surroundings and pay special attention to the road ahead. Intersections require careful attentiveness; as a result, it is crucial that a driver slows down as they approach a stoplight or stop sign and scan the road before taking the next appropriate step. If everyone were to drive defensively, the number of accidents would potentially stay low.
To this day, I have thankfully never experienced a car accident. My younger sister, however, was involved in a minor vehicle accident. She was driving to her job at night since her schedule at the time was overnight, consequently it was not her first time driving in the dark. She drives a Chevy Camaro and every so often she likes to drive fast for show or if she is running late to her destination. That night she drove just above the speed limit and did not notice the curb close to her workplace, hitting the right front and back tires violently at forty-five miles per hour. Luckily, my sister was not injured, and no other vehicle was in the area, but her sports car took heavy damage from the curb, especially since her front bumper is low. Our father provided aid by calling a tow truck and sent the vehicle into a shop for weeks. Ever since that incident, my sister not only drives the accepted speed limit, but also pays extra attention when driving late at night.
A zero-phone use tolerance is another step that can help reduce the number of fatal driving incidents. While it is important to answer the phone during an emergency, instead of answering the phone right away while driving, pulling over to the nearest gas station or store is the safest way to avoid a potential driving accident. According to The Zebra, cell phone usage reduces a driver’s attention by as much as thirty seven percent, increasing the chances of becoming involved in a car accident by twenty-three times! The San Antonio Express – News stated how “Texas ranked number eight among the states and the District of Columbia, with a 14% rate of distracted-driving incidents in the first six months of 2023…. the national average is 12.1%,” (Delgado p1).
Texas drivers are the most distracted drivers across the nation. It is important to do whatever means necessary to break the old habit of being on the phone. The road requires one’s eyes, not social media; that can wait until one reaches their destination safely. I broke my habit by tossing my phone in my purse and tossing it to the back where I cannot reach! No social media post is worth risking my life for. If everyone was aware of the importance of driver’s education, defensive driving, and no phone usage while driving, the number of fatal crashes would reduce immensely.