In today’s world, driving is a fundamental aspect in life. With many using vehicles to get to work, school, and many different locations everyday. It’s so commonly used that it seems less and less of a luxury and more of an essential, which has seen a spike in drivers in the US. As a result, there has been an increase in car accidents and even fatalities. With modern day technologies helping in advancing our ways of life, we can see many solutions to reducing the number of driving accidents.

A glance away from the road is just enough time to put you and others in danger. The most common cause of car accidents in recent times has been due to distracted drivers; whether it’s by a phone, something off the road, or a passenger in the car, drivers should keep their eyes on the road at all times. The issue is that this message is told many times over and over, yet it still occurs. I myself constantly remind my family and friends whenever they go on their phones to read messages or change a song on the radio, but lecturing doesn’t work. A great solution to prevent accidents by distracted drivers could be implementing phone driving detection that locks users out while driving. Dash cams have started to implement alerts when the cameras detect phone-like objects in the driver’s hand. With technological advancements like these, it could drastically reduce the number of car accidents caused by distractions.

The roads that we drive on could also affect the way that we drive. Damaged roads, poorly lit streets, and lack of signage can cause confusion and increase harm if not handled correctly. Local governments should focus on reconstructing damaged roads with cracks, potholes, and being able to withstand weather damage. Lack of lighting also makes drivers rely on only headlights and highbeams, which may also blind other drivers. Signage is also heavily used and stressed about when learning, but some roads lack clear signs and lines to provide drivers with information on the roads ahead. Faded lines that aren’t easily visible to drivers can lead to confusion. It’s vital for roads that lack good infrastructure to be given attention and fixed.

Educating drivers is great at teaching beginners from the start of what driving is like. From the start, drivers will take in from their instructors, friends, family and even online. Those who are constantly with these beginner learners should lead by example, so that a normality is instilled at an early stage of driving. Engagement also goes a long way, by using more behind the wheel training, and real-world situations that could train drivers for rough terrain, other drivers, and more.

Something that is difficult to avoid is reckless endangerment. Drivers that either intentionally disregard traffic laws or drive under the influence, these drivers often put themselves and others in harm’s way. This can relate back to distracted driving, as well as peer pressure, driving under the influence, emotional distress, and much more. This is why reducing reckless drivers is such a difficult process, as there are many different links to it. For monitoring the roads and patrolling for any drivers that are under the influence would be to implement more traffic stops, especially near bars and nightclubs. This will help to reduce drunk driving by targeting key pinpoints where alcohol and substances are common. However, there are also people that are susceptible to pressure amongst others.

Peer pressure is very common among the younger drivers, especially teens. They’ll be easily influenced by older siblings, friends of the same age, and even parents. I myself first learned driving from my siblings, which resulted in me also picking up habits such as speeding. The most effective solution to this is for the people that first teach beginner drivers to understand that what they do is what the driver will repeat. Understanding that they may place new drivers into dangerous situations will be a great incentive to avoiding bad driving etiquette.

Another form of reckless endangerment would be mental state of mind. Those with anger issues that easily enrage with other drivers. Drivers with heavy anxiety that constantly worry on the road with increased difficulty in decision making. One that I experienced when in the car as a passenger was with a friend of mine that fell asleep on the road, and drove onto the opposite side of the road. I was able to wake them up before getting into accidents, but ever since, if someone is tired I offer to drive instead. Situations like these should be resolved before driving, as it may lead to more danger on the road. This may take outside facilities and solutions from driving, but will help in the long run.