Solutions To Safer Roads

Being
a teenager is filled very exciting first. Unfortunately, some teens
will not be able to experience these events. Why? Because 34,000
people die each year due to car accidents, with a majority being
young adults and children. To prevent this, we should drastically
increase the availability of drivers ed programs for both teens
and adults across America. Although there are many schools that offer
this program, there is still a good number of schools that do not. In
order to solve this problem, I believe that local governments should
provide payment to schools that lack drivers ed. Doing this
will result in drivers who know the consequences of being a
distracted driver. From personal experience, I can’t tell you the
countless number of times I’ve seen my fellow classmates involved
in negligent driving. In fact, the number of student- involved
accidents at my school was so bad, they had to enlist the help of
police officers to direct traffic near the student parking lot.
Thankfully, out of the many accidents that have occurred at my
school, there has never been any fatalities or serious injuries. By
implementing drivers ed into all of our schools, both private and
public, we are ensuring safety for not only teen drivers but drivers
of all ages, as well. Other solutions to this problem includes
installing more traffic cameras and street lights. By installing more
traffic cameras in visible locations, it will influence how fast
people drive. Doing this will result in alert, non- negligent drivers
due to fear of paying fines or incarceration. Visible cameras don’t
have to apply to just speed limit, it could also apply to texting,
wearing no seat belts or placing children in the wrong seats. For
instance, in Georgia we have the hands- free rule, which alludes to
the use of not having a phone in your hand while driving. Although
this law has helped reduce the number of fatal car crashes in
Georgia, the addition of noticeable cameras can further reduce this
number. If this doesn’t help, then we could at least add more
street lights to the roads. A significant number of deadly car
accidents occur a night; by installing more street lights, this will
illuminate dark areas that distracted drivers may take for granted.
This solution may not be the best way to eliminate negligent driving,
but it could possibly help lower the severity of possible accidents
and can also be easier to implement throughout the country than other
solutions. All in all, the best option is to seek change within
ourselves. As a teen driver, the only thing I can do protect myself
and others on the road is to reflect on the responsibilities I hold
as a driver. If all drivers were to do this before hitting the road,
then perhaps our streets would be a bit more safe. For now, all we
can do is take on our own responsibilities and know the rights and
wrongs of the road.