Safety is the Name of the Game

Safety is the Name of the Game by Serenity Dylan

The roads are not as safe as they could be. Sometimes driving means taking your life into your own hands. It is dangerous but certain laws could be enacted to address the three main problems. These problems include new drivers and reckless drivers.

According to cdc.gov, “teen drivers … are nearly three times more likely than drivers aged 20 and older to be in a fatal crash” (cdc.gov, 2019). Teens speed and get distracted. These could be partially resolved with mandatory driver’s education for new drivers. Drivers ed would help engrain safe driving habits and would help reduce the deaths as a result of driving. Everyone needs a proper driving education. Drivers ed instructors specialize in driving so they are the most knowledgeable people in that arena. As it stands, the education is very uneven when you rely on the variable skills of parents in teaching their kids. Mandatory drivers ed would ensure consistency, accuracy and correctness in driving. This could help reduce fatalities. But why stop with the teens? What about the other reckless drivers?

Reckless drivers are found at any age. It would be useful to have a refresher course on proper driving. This could be created by mandating that all drivers take a defensive driving class every ten years. If someone is caught driving recklessly in some manner they should also have to take a defensive driving class. It should also be illegal to use your phone or eat while driving in order to minimize distracted driving.

Drunk drivers are the worst kind of distracted drivers because their senses and reactions are deadened. There are a couple of laws we could instate. Bars could be required to sell no more than two drinks per person. Additionally, the bouncer could breathalyze people then take away their keys if they surpass a certain point. These two measures would help keep drunk drivers off the road.

I have had my own experiences with dangerous drivers. One time, my ex cut off a semi-truck giving the truck very little space to slow down. Squeezing into that tight space in the lane while knowing that semis need a lot of space for braking was terrifying. What was even scarier was that the now angry truck driver pulled up beside us and swung his truck at us to drive us off the road. Thankfully, we escaped into another lane. However, I can still remember my scariest experience even though I was two. My mom, sisters and I were driving. My mom didn’t check her mirrors and started to merge into another lane then discovered someone in her blind spot. She swung the car wildly and overcorrected. We ran off the road and the car started flipping down the embankment. The window shattered and I flew out. I wasn’t in an infant seat. Fortunately, I landed in the mud. I’m lucky to be alive. So, I am familiar with unsafe driving.

There are some ways in which I can do my part to create safer roads. I can keep both hands on the wheel. I can keep my eyes on the road even when talking to someone beside me. I can choose not to use my phone, text or eat on the road. As a passenger, if my friend is being unsafe I could tell them it makes me feel unsafe and please not to do it. I can also answer their phone for them so they can focus on the road. These are things anyone can and should do. There are laws we should instate, as well. Every state should require drivers education for new drivers. After all, teen drivers are the most likely to get in an accident. Drivers ed would help engrain safe driving habits and would help reduce the deaths as a result of driving. Everyone needs a proper driving education. Drivers ed instructors specialize in driving so they are the most knowledgeable people in that arena. As it stands, the education is very uneven when you rely on the variable skills of parents in teaching their kids. Mandatory drivers ed would ensure consistency, accuracy and correctness in driving. This could help reduce fatalities. Additionally, a defensive driving class should be mandatory to take every ten years. Also, it should be illegal to use your phone or eat while driving.

New drivers, reckless drivers and drunk drivers are dangerous to others on the road. Distracted driving is also dangerous. Each year, there are more than 30,000 traffic fatalities in the US (Motor vehicle fatality rate in U.S. by year, 2020). Whatever we can do to reduce the risks, we should. And we can through certain legislations. Educating or reeducating drivers and keeping drunk drivers off the road could help. Let’s do what we can to reduce traffic casualties.

References

Motor vehicle fatality rate in U.S. by year. (2020, June 20). Retrieved July 11, 2020, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_vehicle_fatality_rate_in_U.S._by_year

Teen Drivers: Get the Facts. (2019, October 30). Retrieved July 11, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/teen_drivers/teendrivers_factsheet.html