1.35 Million Heartbreaks

On July 24th, 2009, the day after my birthday, my dad received a chilling call. On her way to work, my mom had gotten rear ended. I felt a feeling like no other. I was young, but not too young to understand the dangers of car crashes. Fortunately, my mom was not severely injured and was able to live another day, but some don’t get that luxury. It is a terrifying feeling knowing that one mistake on the road can cause a life full of trauma, guilt, and sorrow. The CDC states that 1.35 million people per year die from roadway related injuries, 1.35 million less smiles, laughs, and voices are being taken away from the world. My parents combined have been involved in 5 car accidents in their lives, all which they can vividly remember as the trauma produced has etched its memory in their minds. Road accidents are reflections of the lack of responsibility that we as humans have for the safety of each other.

When I started my drivers education course, I was constantly reminded of the dangers of the road and how to avoid them. Learning the rules of the road is important, but applying and enforcing them into everyone’s day to day lives is what keeps us safe. More and more teenagers each year are waiting to obtain their licenses at 18 so they can skip through all the drivers education courses and road practice hours, both which are essential to keeping people safe. Responsible and safe driving doesn’t come with age, it comes with knowledge, experience, and understanding the importance of the rules of the road. It is imperative for driver education programs to be strengthened in order for future drivers to gain a better understanding of all road laws and safer driving habits behind the wheel. Finland is one of the hardest countries to get your license in due to their strict driver education courses, but because of this, they are also one of the safest countries to drive in. Obtaining a license shouldn’t be easily accessible and given out like our guns. They should be earned and awarded to those who are responsible enough to know the importance of safe driving and will drive with the intent of keeping our roads safer.

While being knowledgeable on how to drive safely, knowledge is only useful when it’s being used. Not all people can be trusted to drive safely, so it’s the Department of Transportation’s job from every country to require people driving to follow the rules of the road by enforcing stricter road laws. Enforcing stricter road laws means bigger consequences for those not following the rules of the road such as higher fines and suspensions of licenses for speeding, drunk/driving under the influence, etc. Not only is it the job for the government to enforce road laws but also make sure our roads are safe to drive on. Many urban areas suffer from poor road conditions which cause higher rates of car crashes. I believe it’s also the government’s job to regulate the cars that are being sold and driven on our streets. Making sure that all cars are built for safety and administering specific safety features that all cars should have in order to encourage safe driving.

Being a recent recipient of my drivers license, the thought of driving by myself scares me. Not because I don’t trust myself to be confident in my knowledge of driving, I’m not confident in others. Growing up in a big and busy city like Chicago, the roads are always full of cars. There’s never a day where I don’t see lots of traffic and evidence of car accidents on highways and streets. I shouldn’t be driving with the fear that someone is not paying attention, runs a stop sign, or makes an illegal turn and I become another number, a part of 1.35 million. It’s our responsibility as people, whether we are driver education teachers, policy makers, or citizens on the road to create a safe environment for each other.

With regard to driving, some countries’s laws are lax, while even the strictest laws are not strict enough. It is time for a universal code to be implemented in order to reduce this senseless loss of life. We can’t give those smiles back to the 1.35 million lives per year that are taken away from us, nor can we remove the guilt and sorrow from those affected, but we can take action to encourage a world where safe, controlled, and responsible driving is the norm. Establishing more laws and drivers education courses that requires each driver on the road to commit themselves to keeping their lives and the lives around them safe.