When Dangerous Becomes Normal

I always thought driving would be easy,
Running red lights, reckless driving, driving under the influence, and texting while driving were daily occurrences- behaviours that I saw daily, not only in my family but also amongst friends, neighbors, and strangers.
The consequences? They were simple. Easy to understand.
If you're lucky, you'd get pulled over by a traffic officer bribing you to pay them 20 bucks (five if they're in a good mood) so they could let you go without a fine.
Out of luck? A horrible traffic accident that could end up in death.
That's the reality I grew up with in Ecuador. For me, those were the standards. You could drive however you wanted and get away with it, unless you were one of the unlucky ones and ended up in an accident.
I experienced these behaviours often. From seeing my aunt's husband driving the car while drunk and crashing it, not even 2 minutes after he got into the car. Or from going on a family road trip to the beach, where a Kia that could only fit 6 people somehow fit 10; little me had to sit on the car floor, and every time there was a traffic check, I would quickly hide under some blankets. It was certainly not a safe way to travel, and although I did not understand the seriousness of it at the time, I definitely paid the price in the form of everyone's stinky feet.
Looking back, what concerns me most is not only that these things happened, but that they felt normal. I grew up believing that dangerous driving was simply part of driving.

But why did it become so normalized? Why did people get so used to this irresponsibility?

I believe part of the answer lies in what people are taught to consider acceptable. When dangerous behaviours are repeatedly witnessed without immediate consequences, they can begin to feel ordinary rather than dangerous. Without proper education, enforcement, or awareness of the consequences, people may continue these behaviours because they've become normalized. 

However, normal doesn't mean safe.  Research shows just how serious the consequences of unsafe driving can be. A 2025 study of traffic fatalities in Ecuador found a road-crash mortality rate of approximately 20 deaths per 100,000 people (Acosta-González et al., 2025). For context, Canada recorded 4.7 motor-vehicle fatalities per 100,000 people in 2021 (Transport Canada, 2021), while the United States had an estimated road-traffic mortality rate of 14.2 per 100,000 (World Health Organization, 2023)

The first step should be stronger and more continuous driver education. Learning how to operate a vehicle should not be treated as simply another test to pass; drivers should understand the consequences behind the rules they are taught.  The World Health Organization’s Safe System approach recognizes that “people will make mistakes in traffic,” but that road systems should be designed so those mistakes do not result in death or serious injury (World Health Organization, 2017).
Driver education should therefore be supported by consistent enforcement, safer road infrastructure, awareness campaigns against impaired and distracted driving, guidance on how to handle road rage, and appropriate speed limits. Education teaches drivers why these rules matter, while enforcement reinforces that they are not optional.  But creating safe roads and laws shouldn't be solely the responsibility of the goverment; as drivers, we also have to take accountability for our actions. Because we all have a role in creating an environment where dangerous behaviour is challenged rather than normalized.

As a driver, I can choose to never text or use my phone while driving, follow speed limits even when there is no one watching, never drive under the influence, wear my seatbelt, and remain aware of pedestrians, cyclists, and other drivers. I can also make sure that the people around me understand that speaking up matters. If I see a friend reaching for their phone, driving recklessly, or considering driving while impaired, I can choose to say something instead of staying silent.

I used to believe that if someone drove irresponsibly and nothing happened, then there was no real consequence. Now, after having better education on road safety,  I understand that safe driving means making the right decision even when there is no police officer watching and no immediate consequence for doing the wrong thing.

I want to carry this lesson with me every time I get behind the wheel: being a safe driver is not about avoiding a ticket; it is about making choices that allow everyone on the road to make it home.

Driving may be easy; the challenging part is choosing to do it responsibly. Everyone on the road deserves to make it home safely.


Citations:
 Acosta-González, N., Cahueñas, S., & Pérez, C. (2025). Risk factors for fatal road traffic accidents in Ecuador. Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 32, 101515. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2025.101515

Transport Canada. (2021). Canadian motor vehicle traffic collision statistics: 2021. 

 World Health Organization. (2023). Global status report on road safety 2023: United States of America. 

World Health Organization. (2017). Powered two- and three-wheeler safety: A road safety manual for decision-makers and practitioners. https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/254759/9789241511926-eng.pdf