Intent vs Impact

In recent modern history, negligence and the inability to be safe on the road has caused more casualties year after year. There is more of a stress on safety and more warnings of potential hazards while on the road. It seems the basis of this unsafe number of casualties every year is that the people who it may not apply to, do not take the situations seriously. For example, being a victim to a drunk driver or being the drunk driver can happen to anyone. In that state of mind, people are not able to predict how they will act or perceive scenarios, but when we hear organizations urging us to not drink and drive in the right state of mind we think “ That will never be me”, so we do not make it much of a priority.

Nonetheless, no part of society sees all of the negative effects of not taking proper precautions on the road, so there may be a tendency to downplay the issue based upon the status of one’s community. Personally, I have been in minor accidents, thankfully nothing too major. On the other hand, I do know people that have been victims or were the reasons for accidents. I have also witnessed some of my family members drive irresponsibly by texting while driving. Utilizing our respective communities’ to compare to a globalized issue, I believe is where the issue lies. Through this lens of perspective, there is likelihood that people will take the precautions for granted, up until people need to actively use them for their safety in a time of need. Most importantly, there is a relationship between drivers’ habits and the empathy towards other drivers. For instance; a driver can have a severe accident due to being distracted on their phone, but a driver who regularly uses their phone while driving and not getting into any accidents won’t change their habits unless they feel for the person or it eventually happens to them.

All in all, there is a very strong belief that people obviously do not intend to hurt others on the road, but the impact of wrongdoing eliminates that. However, peoples’ actions do not always match their intent. The implications of being a driver in today’s society goes beyond exclusively road risks. There are implications off the road that are just as, if not more prevalent than on road risks. The tragic loss of a loved one due to idiotic wrongdoings and/or negligence to the risks that come with being on the road vastly outweighs anything a person may say or do to make up for it and it all could have been preventable. The impact of a preventable situation does not only affect a person, a family or even a community, the situation affects people on a worldwide scale. The portrayal of the impact in today’s society is displayed in all of these commercials warning us to stay off drugs and not drink alcohol and drive, urging us to wear our seatbelts and public service announcements on not texting and driving.

Although the implications of driving are increasing as there is more of a focus on technological innovation and the never-ending influences of drugs and alcohol, there has to be a point where the driver prioritizes self evaluation as a focal point and thinks of his or her mistakes as potential worldwide impact. It wouldn’t be fair to compare This is where driver’s education is crucial to learn more about the risks associated with driving and learning how to determine if a risk is too high to take that could jeopardize others. From the outside looking in, it is very easy to criticize another driver for his or her irresponsible actions for the damage they have caused to others. The only logical way to reduce these casualties from 34,000 people a year, is to learn from others’ mistakes and apply it to the way we as a society need to drive.

In essence, with the knowledge of how others can put themselves and others at risk for preventable mistakes, I can make informed, responsible choices on how I drive and my condition when I am driving. Knowing the balance of off road risks and on road risks in today’s society, my first step is to limit the risks and distractions I may possibly face as an adult to make sure my condition is exceptional before going on the road. Most importantly, my education of the road and how it operates has to be exceptional as well; not only to protect myself, but to ultimately protect others on the road as well.