I love driving, to me cruising down the highway while listening to my favorite songs is one of the few moments when I can escape from the hustle and bustle of life and just enjoy myself. There’s this reassuring sense of being in control with no pressure to socialize, no need to maintain a face, no feeling of impending doom over an upcoming test, and no parents nagging me to do chores. Just me, the steering wheel, and the road ahead accompanied by my favorite Spotify tunes. However driving is a privilege, one that we each must earn and maintain as one mistake can ruin the lives of both yourself and many others. Each year, thousands of lives are lost on the roads, surpassing the toll of some of history's most devastating conflicts. The gravity of these statistics underscores the urgent need for heightened awareness and education surrounding safe driving practices. It is paramount that we learn about and utilize defensive driving and road safety techniques in our daily lives and pressure others to do the same to stay deserving of the privilege of driving and ensure the safety of ourselves and those around us.
Before anyone can sit in front of the wheel, even if an adult is with them, it is required that they go through a basic driver's education and pass the exam. Whether you choose to self-study or join a driving program you must take this step seriously and learn how to deal with any obstacles you may encounter while driving, whether it be a roundabout, a stopped school bus, or a broken stoplight. This step serves as the cornerstone for safe driving as it is where one learns a majority of the traffic laws, defensive driving techniques, and hazard recognition. This is also the step during which we must make sure people are aware that driving is a privilege and establish awareness of the consequences of reckless and inattentive driving. It is important that during the initial driver education, we foster a culture of accountability and awareness, empowering drivers to recognize the gravity of their actions and prioritize safety above all else. Through effective driver education programs, individuals are better equipped to navigate complex driving scenarios, thereby reducing the likelihood of accidents and fatalities.
However, even though everyone is required to go through a basic driver's education, sadly there are still tens of thousands of traffic-related deaths in the US every year with over 40,000 in 2022 alone. Even worse is that about a third of fatal accidents involve alcohol intoxication, something which as an individual is easily avoidable. To prevent drunk driving many policies can be implemented such as lowering the blood alcohol concentration limit, establishing zero-tolerance laws for those under 21, and establishing publicly known sobriety checkpoints. It's even more important that we adequately punish DUI offenders as they are responsible for fatalities that unjustly take away our moms, dads, sons, daughters, siblings, friends, and partners. We can not afford to be lax with them and they must be made accountable for their actions and aware of just how irresponsible and disgusting drunk driving is. Ignition interlocks should also be utilized to ensure people don’t repeat the same mistake. As individuals, it's just as important to make sure that those around us are aware of the consequences of intoxicated driving and make sure that they avoid putting themselves in situations where they may be inclined to drunk driving such as when there's no one sober available.
While drunk driving is a major cause of fatal car accidents, it's also important that we address the cause of the remaining two-thirds of fatal accidents. Some other primary causes of car accidents are distracted driving and reckless driving habits. When driving there can be distractions all around us whether it be a rowdy child in the back seat or text notification on the phone, many people are guilty of taking their eyes off the road to address these distractions which greatly increase the chances of an accident occurring. I have seen many people around me distracted while driving, oftentimes by their phones. If you see someone around you distracted while driving it's important to scold and warn them, like I did with my dad who I used to catch “listening” to Netflix while driving. As for reckless driving habits, it's important to teach people to keep a safe following distance, come to a full stop at stop signs, avoid speeding, check mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes, use blinkers when turning and changing lanes, avoid racing on public roads, etc. Law enforcement is also just as important as they ideally stop reckless drivers before any accidents can occur. It's important that the police are well-funded, trained, and organized so that they can operate at their best and prevent accidents.
Maintaining safe driving habits is of particular importance to me due to a personal experience that left a lasting impact, bordering on trauma, when I rode in a friend's car driven by his dad. The whole trip I was terrified. I got to see and experience pretty much every unsafe driving habit in the book: speeding, weaving through lanes, tailgating, stopping centimeters behind the car in front, checking the phone, you name it. While I did address my concerns a few times during the trip, there was little change, and when we finally arrived, I had never been as grateful as I was at that moment to have my feet on solid earth. Thanks to this experience I learned everything to not do while driving and to do everything within my power to avoid riding with my friend's dad again.
It's moments like riding with my friend's dad or scolding my dad for “listening” to Netflix in the car that remind me how commonplace unsafe driving practices are. It’s sad but also shows me that we can make a lot of progress in preventing fatal traffic accidents. From my experience I have learned that driving is more than just a means of transportation, it's a responsibility we owe to ourselves and others. By utilizing safe driving practices, advocating for change, and holding ourselves and others accountable, we can navigate towards safer roads and brighter futures.