It's on Us

Annika Conn

It’s on Us

According to the Association for Safe International Road Travel, nearly 37,000 people die in road crashes each year in the United States. When I was 15, I took a Drivers ed Course and realized that it teaches more than just the knowledge of how to drive a car and laws of the road, but taught responsibility, leadership, and put a spotlight on the importance of safe driving and the consequences otherwise. This is a course that should be required to be taken by all drivers regardless of age. Simply hearing that shockingly big number can lead someone to really think about the decisions they make as a driver.

Distracted or uneducated driving jeopardizes the safety of yourself and everyone around you. Irresponsible driving sometimes is displayed right in front of us and goes without mention or realization. For example, have you ever seen your friend trying to change a song on their phone while driving? Assist them and tell them you will do it, encourage and practice safe driving habits. I haven’t had a lot of experience with irresponsible driving firsthand; however, when a loved one of mine was in a car accident, I clearly remember the pain and fear of that day. I can only imagine the pain I would have felt if my loved one would have been killed. Yet, this is a reality that so many families have to face. A friend recently shared with me that his niece, merely a baby, was killed in a car accident due to improper equipment. Alongside the baby, his sister was severely injured because of a lack of a seatbelt. This goes to show that no rule or precaution is considered less important when it comes to driver’s safety and human life.

So then, what are the steps that need to be taken? Well, it takes all of us. It takes people who are willing to raise awareness and promote driving safety. People who will participate in drivers ed classes. People who will follow the laws and encourage others to follow them. People in charge to enforce the laws. It simply takes people who care enough to hear that devastating number of deaths and work towards reducing it. Personally, I can become a better driver and encourage others to do the same by taking steps such as the following: set my phone out of reach while driving, make full and complete stops, set my music or directions before leaving for my destination, wearing my seatbelt and making sure everyone in the car is as well, not driving tired or with high emotions, and keeping my eyes on the road at all times. Car accidents are still going to happen because we are humans who make human mistakes. Although this is true, through educating driver’s before putting them behind the wheel, that number of deaths from automobile accidents can and will be reduced.