Reckless Today, Gone Tomorrow

Discussing
road safety is a widely known topic, yet it is not one of much
concern. When is the last time something changed to ensure the lives
of others? Fatalities concerning vehicles is one of the top deaths in
the United States. In one year alone, five billion crashes had
occurred and of those, 30,000 people lost their lives - 2,000 of
those being children under the age of sixteen. If it such a serious
issue, what are simple steps we can be taking for it?

The
first step towards achieving safe roads is having new drivers obtain
the importance of drivers ed. Sitting for countless hours
seemingly hearing the obvious road safety laws. “No headphones, no
speeding, never drive while your vision is impaired…” Are the
words that are drilled into kids heads over and over, yet they never
seem to remember them. They appear to be knowledgeable of them, yet
once they hit the roads by themselves, the care for others safety
simply vanishes.

One
of the easiest steps to be taken to reduce the number of deaths
related to driving is to put down the phone. Technology has recently
been created to place your phone, and apps, on “do not disturb”.
It was a great invention, and a step in the right direction, yet how
many teens will truly turn their phones on the mode that cuts off
their contact with the world?They can not speak to their friends,
post where they are, or snap beautiful sunset pictures. The invention
had the right intentions, but how useful will it become until kids
themselves truly understand how much more harm they are causing than
good?

Personally,
I have been in my own experience where my eighteen year old self,
snatched my sixty-three year old grandmother’s phone from her hands
while driving. She insisted on texting someone back to let them know
we were on our way, yet I refused. We were not only placing our own
lives in danger, yet every other life on the highway with us ranging
from newborns to elders. Ironic the older generations crack down on
us for always being on our phones and to never use them while
operating a vehicle, yet they fall into the traumatizing habit of
doing it too.

Every
driver, young or old, is fully aware not only is driving without full
attention is dangerous, it is against the law. I believe the same
police men that hide sneakingly under bridges and around corners to
catch people speeding, should have a device that allows them to see
if drivers are using their phones too. We have numerous types of
technology, yet why are we using it in all the wrong places? Rather
than using it to satisfy people’s needs of social media, why don’t
we use it to ensure the safety of everyone traveling one place to
another? Be smart, put away the phone and distractions, and drive as
if your life depended on it - because it does.