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.