Concerning Accident Rates

Katelyn Callahan

June 22, 2020

Concerning Accident Rates

When I was seven years old, my grandfather and his wife were on their way home from a night out. I had not seen them for a while, and little did I know I would never see them again. It was dark outside, and my grandpa could not see well. Because of this fact, he ended up on the wrong side of the road, colliding with another car. This resulted in the death of him and his wife. It is upsetting to know that my grandfather was in the wrong, but this has taught me to be observant while driving. If people were to pay more attention on the road, many accidents would be prevented, and lives would be saved. The consequences are too large for individuals to continue being reckless.

Thousands of drivers in the United States die from being irresponsible while driving. This has resulted in concerns that many want to show adults and new drivers. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2018, 36,560 people died in car accidents; this does not include the amount of life-altering injuries and irreversible trauma that occurred to others present in the vehicle. Drivers ed is an important topic because it teaches people how to drive and the importance of attention while driving. These deaths could be avoided if the importance of drivers ed was made apparent to people who are about to get their license.

Steps that could be taken to reduce death rates could be a class that drivers are required to take every year to make sure they are still fit for being behind the wheel. This class would include the checking of eyesight, hearing, ability to understand traffic lights and signs, etc. Another option would be a short driving test you have to take at the DMV each year. You and a designated DMV employee would drive around the parking lot or a course the DMV could set up. From this driving test, the employee would determine whether the driver is fit to continue behind the wheel.

I personally have never had any accidents, but many of my family members have been affected by reckless drivers. My brother has been hit by a drunk driver, my other brother was hit by an inattentive taxi-driver and severely injured. My brother has recovered, but still lives with rotator-cuff issues when this accident was almost one year ago. I can become a better driver by researching most issues drivers run into while driving, and how to avoid them. Once I better educate myself on these matters, I can help my friends and family become better drivers by explaining and showing them that information.

If people take even ten minutes out of their day to research issues drivers face, take the time to be patient, and focus on being behind the wheel, many more lives would be spared each year.