Drive Safely and Save Lives

Drive Safely and Save Lives

Accidents due to road rage and negligence of traffic rules as well as speed limits may be deemed commonplace. However a startling 34,000 highway accident deaths occur every year. This throws light on the impending issues of road safety and accidents caused by its lack thereof.

They say that the light brought by knowledge mitigates all darkness, and like all problems, more education and awareness regarding this issue is perhaps the key step to curbing it. And while this suggestion may seem generic, the importance of drivers ed should not be underestimated. Proper tests and practical assessments regarding driving abilities as well as provision of manuals and guides dictating appropriate measures for road safety and speed limits should also be enforced.

Setting a higher penalty will cause people on the road to take traffic guidelines and laws seriously and can act as an effective deterrent to maintain law and order. Ensuring that there are appropriate signs with speed limit as well as road navigation centers within a certain range of miles, equipped with law enforcement and basic first aid, can reduce the scope and severity of these accidents. In general, adequate investments should be made in local police departments and state ambulances to reduce delays in medical care, should such unfortunate incidents occur.

Areas prone to accidents can also be canvassed on a rotatory basis by local police to check blood alcohol and intoxication levels, as well as driver’s documents. States with lower age limits for alcohol consumption and recreational drugs should be even more stringent with these rules and should charge higher fines. There can also be a probationary period for individuals with a bad driving record, which can include repeating drivers’ education videos before they get a new vehicle registered.

Newer technologies should be applied for enforcement of traffic rules. Cell phone monitoring can be utilized for automatic detection of speeding drivers and automatic ticketing of penalties. Dependency on physical police for monitoring can be reduced as it is both expensive and limited in its efficacy.

Positive reinforcement could also be used. Drivers who do not do any traffic violations may get their license renewal for free. All in all, generating awareness, emphasizing on drivers ed and a stricter implementation on behalf of law enforcement can reduce the number of road accident deaths by a great amount.