Going to work, school, stores, visiting family, running general errands, among many others are reasons that people drive in the United States. Since there isn't widespread public transportation, many would argue that driving is essential. According to brookings.edu, a staggering 115 million cars and trucks are on the road every day in the U.S alone. Since this number is only increasing with population, safe driving has become a large concern. Car accidents can occur for a multitude of reasons, the majority of which are preventable, specifically 94-96% of these accidents are caused by human error alone. Driving safe means being focused on the road and staying aware of cars around you as well as the condition of your vehicle. To expect every American to put their phone away and get their car checked on a regular basis is moral but completely unrealistic. There are many other plausible ways that traffic accidents can be prevented, the main one being increased education on the subject of driving safety.
Driving education would largely decrease the amount of dangerous drivers on the street. It may sound silly at first, considering that most people should know not to speed, to stop at red lights, and to use their turn signal whilst merging. These basic concepts can be reinforced but the focus in this education should be on tactics to use when operating a vehicle that keep people safe. A good example of one of these tactics would be waiting 2-4 seconds before proceeding after a green light is shown, this is to ensure that even if someone isn't paying attention and runs a red light as it transitions, the two parties would not collide. Elaborating on the importance of properly using the tools in a vehicle would also prove to be valuable, mirrors, windshield wipers, turn signals, and panic lights are not used often enough and are usually neglected by drivers. My mother has recently become much more aware of coming to complete stops at stop signs and thoroughly checking her mirrors after teaching me how to drive. She realized that the rules that I was expected to follow, were things that had slipped her mind due to becoming extremely comfortable whilst behind the wheel. These pieces of knowledge would be distributed to more than just schools, but also workplaces and television advertisements. Teens do tend to speed, but with what I’ve seen in my few months of driving, adults could definitely also use a refresher course.
Modern cars contain an array of safety features that have life-saving capabilities. The only problem is that many people do not use them, specifically, seatbelts. Seatbelts have the ability to turn a fatal accident into one that most people can walk away from, but people still choose not to use them. Many are aware of their capabilities as well as the fact that it is illegal to not wear one in 49 U.S states, therefore, I believe that the reason why many people don’t wear their seatbelts is due to pure laziness and overconfidence. I have even noticed this with my father. Whenever my father and I come home from work, he usually stops by a gas station that is located less than five minutes from our house. He figures that since it isn't a long drive, he doesn't have to wear his seatbelt. I always urge him to but he usually doesn't. Since nothing has happened yet, many may assume that my father is correct in thinking that since we are five minutes from the house, nothing could possibly happen, they would be incorrect. According to truscellolaw.com, 52% of all car accident in the United states occur just five minutes from home. If this specific piece of information was more widely known, I am confident that more people like my father would wear their seatbelt anytime that they are operating a vehicle.
Even as a newer driver, I can use tactics to make myself and those around me safer. Simply driving as if I am taking a drivers test is a fantastic way that I have been able to stay safe while driving. Things like staying within the speed limit, checking my mirrors, and knowing how to parallel park make me a much safer driver. Doing these things also set a good example for people around me, one being my little sister who will be a freshman in high school this year. If I can set a good example of what an ideal driver is whilst taking her to and from school, then hopefully she will mimik my behavior and drive safely once she learns how to.
In conclusion, safe driving saves lives. Education is the main way that people learn to be safe drivers, so the goal should be to educate as many people as possible. Everyone has seen unsafe driving in their lives, but with more technology being invented and newer ways of spreading knowledge being created, hopefully we’ll be seeing a lot less of it.