Driving: America’s Leading Cause of Preventable Deaths

Alexandra
Zeppos

Youth
Forward Scholarship 2019

1
April 2019

Driving:
America’s Leading Cause of Preventable Deaths

It
is now officially more dangerous for Americans to drive than it is to
fight in combat. In 2017 alone, there were 34,247 fatal motor vehicle
accidents that resulted in 37,133 deaths (General Statistics). From
one year of driving, more Americans died from motor vehicle accidents
than in half of the ten deadliest wars on behalf of americans
soldiers. Clearly a major problem, actions need to be taken in order
to reduce the excessive amount of roadway deaths.

In
order to decide where actions need to be conducted, the problem needs
to be located at the source. With 46 percent of fatal accidents
taking place in rural areas (General Statistics), it is clear that
the problem is nationwide and not focused in urban areas where the
population is greater. However, a major factor in vehicle deaths that
needs to be considered is 54 percent of fatal accidents were
single-vehicle accidents (General Statistics). With millions of
people on the roadways every day, accidents, as well as deaths are
bound to happen. With that being said, the majority of deaths
resulting from accidents where only one vehicle is involved is
unacceptable. This needs to be addressed first as they most likely
are not human error, but recklessness. To go along with what was
previously mentioned, 62 percent of fatal crashes resulted from
excessive rates of blood-alcohol-content (General Statistics), which
most likely ties into the high death rates among single-vehicle
accidents. The statistics show the majority of vehicle related deaths
are due to recklessness, and prove that actions must be taken to
diminish roadway deaths. In order to do so, a few areas need to be
targeted.

To
begin, intoxicated drivers need to be taken off of the roadways.
Whether that may be with a reduced blood-alcohol-content level,
stronger consequences for driving under the influence, or an
increased amount of safety checks, they must be stopped.

Furthermore,
drivers ed courses play a massive role, as well. With
single-vehicle accidents being as prevalent as they are, new drivers
need to have safety precautions, as well as the dangers of driving
imprinted in their heads. Driving is not to be taken lightly and
drivers ed classes have the ability to greatly impact the
amount of roadway deaths. Seat belt usage among those fatally
involved in an accident ranged anywhere from 20 to 61 percent
nationwide (General Statistics). The importance of wearing a
restraint while driving can also be delivered through driver
education.

Finally,
comes the easiest and most important way to stop traffic deaths and
it starts with us. I, personally, have been in accidents; all of
which were caused by reckless drivers. I have also been in vehicles
where the driver was the one being negligent. The importance of
driver safety, as well as reducing roadway deaths begins with us.

We
have the ability to put the phone down, the seatbelt on, or have
someone else drive when we are in no position to do so. By taking
responsibility upon ourselves, as well as upon those that we know, we
can reduce the amount of deaths while not having to enforce
aggressive laws.

Works
Cited

“General
Statistics.” Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety Highway Loss Data Institute,
n.d.,
https://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/t/general-statistics/fatalityfacts/state-by-state-overview.