Diminishing Driving Dangers

 

Globally, the number of deaths related to driving is declining, but it still remains a substantial issue. There is still much work to be done in reducing the number of vehicular fatalities worldwide. As more vehicles and more people operating those vehicles begin occupying the roads, the importance of driver safety becomes more and more prevalent. It is our job as drivers to know the dangers involved with driving and the methods to prevent accidents from occurring in the first place.

First, all drivers must become educated on how to operate their vehicle properly to keep everyone safe on the roads. That includes both classroom training before driving and in-person experience driving with an instructor to prepare them. One problem we face with new drivers is that they are unaware of the dangers and potential consequences of irresponsible driving. More experienced drivers have seen how a bad driver can cause a lot of harm to himself or others when he is not prepared. New drivers need to be exposed to the harm that they can cause by their driving in a safe environment. Usually, bad influences and peer pressure will cause young drivers to fold under the pressure and adopt bad driving habits. We need to put teens in controlled, uncomfortable scenarios where they will have to say no to the pressure. Drivers also need to be better educated about how their vehicles work. If someone encounters a problem or a warning light in their vehicle, it can cause many people to panic, leading to crashes. If we put the time into educating our drivers what to do in the case of a vehicular emergency it would give them the ability to mentally prepare and have a plan when the issue arises. If the driver understands why something is happening, he will be more equipped to respond in a controlled and appropriate manner rather than out of fear of confusion.

Another step that can be taken to reduce the number of driving fatalities is to increase the safety features integrated into cars. A lot of driving related crashes are often the result of distracted drivers due to phone usage. If we created an app that detected when the car was in motion and locked the phone for that duration, it would help to eliminate phones from distracting drivers. Another safety feature that could help this problem would be implementing detection software into the car systems so that it would automatically stop cars from being used for irresponsible behaviors. If the car detected that the driver was going into another lane too often without changing, it could put on guardrails that kept it in the lines of that lane. Or if a car was exceeding the speed limit by a margin for an extended period of time, it could slow down the car by itself, keeping both the driver and other drivers safer. Finally, if the car was approaching a stop sign or red light, but it wasn’t slowing down properly to stop in time, the car would put on the brakes, making sure that traffic kept going smoothly. 

I have never personally been involved in a car accident, however, I have heard stories and been in situations where another driver was being irresponsible. First, the stories I have heard were from my substitute teacher who got in an accident that could have been prevented. When he got hit, his legs were shoved into the front of the car, under the engine and partially crushed. Even after surgery, he still walks with a limp and is lucky that was all. Hearing his story always serves as a reminder of the fatal consequences that can result from driving irresponsibly. I have also been in situations where my friend has been going over the speed limit or attempting to race another vehicle on the road. In these situations, I always voice my concern and attempt to reason with them to stop. If they refuse, I ask them to drop me off somewhere and my parents can come pick me up. I then refuse to drive with them again because I do not wish to put myself in more danger even if the other person does not wish the same.

In conclusion, there are many ways we can attempt to decrease the number of accidents and car related fatalities. However, I think the best way is not to force onto other people what we would not adopt ourselves. If we want to help other drivers stay safe on the roads, we must first take action in our own lives to lower our chances of fatal accidents. First, I can always keep my phone off and away from reach when driving so I am not tempted to check it. Second, I can always abide by the traffic laws even if I see others disobeying them. Finally, I can set a good example when driving others in my car by focusing on the road and using all the built in safety features so that they too will see that safe driving always outweighs irresponsible driving.