The Realities of Safe Driving

Car accidents are one of the greatest modern tragedies. In our post-industrialization world, the importance of automobiles as a mode of transportation has increased alongside the population. Unfortunately, so have the injuries and deaths associated with the vehicle. As a result, driving safely is both a legal and moral responsibility in modern times. In order to help uninformed drivers understand this responsibility, greater efforts should be taken to spread awareness about automobile accidents and how best to avoid them.

The average weight of cars in the United States, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is around 4,000 pounds. In general though, most people drive a car that weighs around 3,000 pounds; larger cars are what tip the scales here. 3,000 pounds is a lot on its own, but when it makes contact with a person’s body or another car at high speeds, the force it exudes can cause a multitude of severe issues. In comparison to cars, human bodies are extremely delicate. A particular type of injury isn’t guaranteed either. The type of crash indicates what someone is more likely to receive if they suffer any sort of harm. For example, rear crashes tend to lead to spinal injuries, which can cause permanent paralysis. However, head-on collisions are known to cause chest injuries. Regardless, statistics ultimately show that any part of the body, from the head to the pelvis, can be damaged during a car accident. Simply being involved in an accident can lead to major trauma, and not everyone survives.

Though the colloquial name suggests otherwise, car accidents tend to have easily discernible causes. A major one is distracted driving. Driving demands all of a driver’s attention, and distractions interfere with this. Because we live in a connected world, it is more and more common for drivers to use their phones while on the road. Unfortunately, this significantly raises the risk of a crash. Humans simply aren’t adapted to multitasking effectively, especially while driving. Another common cause is drunk driving. Just like how texting and driving reduces reaction time, so does alcohol consumption. A lack of sobriety makes it difficult to judge distances accurately and focus on swiftly changing road conditions. When we factor in how tiredness and intense emotional states can cause the same effects, it becomes apparent why these accidents are so common. Numerous factors can impair a person’s ability to drive properly, and impairment compromises road safety.

Solving the epidemic of car-related injuries and fatalities seems daunting, but it is entirely possible to help reduce the amount of them that occur. Laws centered on road safety raise awareness to a certain degree, but informing drivers about the particulars of those laws and why they are put into place is equally important. Young drivers are not always fully aware of the reasoning behind seatbelts being required or outlawing drunk driving. Greater efforts to educate people will reap more benefits than simply enforcing stricter and stricter laws. Requiring more comprehensive education on the dangers of the road is a necessity.

There will most likely always be car accidents, even in potential futures where self-driving cars become mainstream. Since we currently live in a world that revolves around cars and their ability to get us places, it’s important to make it so more people reach their destinations safely. In order to do this, the realities of driving safely have to be made more apparent. Alert drivers are responsible drivers, and every driver needs to be responsible while on the road.