Awareness on Motorized Safety

​Coming from a country backward or insensitive to these laws, I have seen enough accidents to shake a blind man. I have seen enough; they barely have road signs. But since I moved here, it is different. They have all this, yet there are still prevalent accidents. The psychology behind it, I think, is mostly negligence and the "if I miss one step just this once" mindset, thinking nothing is going to happen, and then an accident occurs. I think driver's education is very important. Plus, we have a lot of inexperienced and uneducated drivers, and a lot of young thrill chasers. All this amounts to the ascending deaths in the years that follow.

​Several key steps can be taken to reduce driving deaths. We need more officials to supervise high risk roads, increased advertisements on road safety, implementation of driver's education directly into school curriculums, and strong awareness campaigns sharing facts on road accidents through news stations. I think these solutions are highly effective and do not impose on individual liberty because collective safety comes first. I would love to see stricter enforcement by qualified personnel and better education spread across schools, homes, offices, and even religious institutions. Regarding technology, we need less use of mobile devices on the roads to maintain focus, as well as more safety technology in vehicles to minimize impact or damage. Finally, personal choices matter immensely. You must be careful because your decisions behind the wheel can change someone's life trajectory, and that includes never driving under the influence.

​Walking long distances in Hartford carrying heavy bags of groceries has given me a real pedestrian perspective on how careless drivers can be. Walking with a tote bag full of groceries while my shoulders hurt a lot, I see drivers making terrible mistakes every day. Drivers speed up to the point of a red light, and when it flickers for pedestrians to start crossing, the drivers stop so abruptly that they are parked right on the zebra crossing. This makes you go around the car when walking. Also on roads that are school based and in town or rural areas where you do not have a lot of traffic signs and regulations, people speed a lot and make reckless turns at pedestrian walkways. Experiences like this make me value road safety even more because pedestrians are vulnerable when drivers act like that.

​I remember my uncle, Mr. Uche. He went out to party, and on his way back, everyone being drunk, they sped and slammed in between two trailers. He survived with only one functioning arm. Unfortunately, the others were very badly wounded. In my uncle's case, I did not see a lot of accountability. They kept on blaming spiritual forces like the devil instead of him accepting his mistake. He would have killed someone that night, but it is like he does not care. Seeing that lack of accountability, combined with coming from a place with very few traffic safety laws, shaped how I view driving. It showed me that you cannot leave safety to excuses. When you drive, you must take full ownership of your choices.

​To be a better and safer driver, I will check essential parts of my car before going out, like tires, fuel, lights, and general alignment, and maybe go to weekly mechanic inspections to do all that. I will not use mobile devices when on the road. I will make sure I am not sleepy or drowsy due to any substance before driving. If drunk, I will call a friend or an Uber. Completing my driver's education program is a huge step for me, and I will also update myself on the dangers of road carelessness, stats on road deaths, and measures to prevent it.

​My motivation to protect my younger sister drives me to be careful. Because I stay at the UConn Hartford campus and have a busy schedule with classes and work, we do not get to see each other a lot. Driving her to dance practice to and fro will make me and her bond more. Taking on this duty will also teach her responsibility as her older brother, and maybe she could see her late dad through me. Thinking about her sitting next to me makes me plan my driving with total care and caution.

​A message I can give when behind the wheel is that anything can happen on the road. We take risks every day, but you must own yourself when driving and be cautious on highways and expressways. Bear in mind your actions are consequential and can make someone else lose a loved one forever. Driving is a privilege, and being reckless is just not worth it.