Fatal Flipside

Drivers across the United States often find themselves in minor fender benders due to small mistakes, but there is a fatal flipside of accidents that could leave them hospitalized with or without hope of recovery. These terrible accidents can be caused by inappropriate driving habits, blatant ignorance of traffic laws, and drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol. These things can cause immense physical and emotional damage to the victims and their families and friends. To lower the death toll accumulated by vehicles, drivers must educate themselves with reoccurring state provided education and consistently practicing behind the wheel in a variety of weather conditions and types of roads.

Driver education is a fundamental part of learning the rules of the road and honoring your privilege to get behind the wheel and go on a journey. Drivers of all ages should be aware of all recent updates to the traffic laws in their state. This small task done once every few years will help prevent accident-related deaths. Hands on practice required to attain a license is another buffer used to train drivers to be ready to prevent accidents ranging from fender benders to airbag releasing accidents. Even with advanced safety features in many cars today, we still must rely on people being properly educated drivers.

To reduce the number of accidents and deaths, people must obey traffic laws, put down their mobile phones, and keep an awake and sober mind while operating a vehicle. It is the responsibility placed upon each driver as they get into their vehicles and enter the roads. When it is time for license renewal, all drivers should review a 45-minute educational video and complete a 15-min evaluation to ensure they are aware of current laws and regulations of the road. Requiring such a review, drivers will be better informed, educated, and prepared when they face these life altering conditions behind the wheel. This standard will no doubt encourage the drivers to become more responsible and aware of their level of attention while driving. Another action that can be implemented to prevent deaths is adhering to the requirement of no cruising in the left lane. All people should pass on the left, use a turn signal to change lanes, and merge appropriately in different traffic patterns. Phones are expected to be put down while driving, and this expectation should be maintained and further enforced, especially by patrol officers. These safety measures can make a huge difference in the death statistics and will generate a safer and less deadly driving experience.

Personally, I was in one car accident, in which I was a passenger in the rear seat. This accident was caused by another car turning across an intersection on a yielded green. We had right of way and this car drove across the intersection hitting our car. This moment lives vividly in my mind. From this moment stems my anticipation of dangerous situations on the road and has helped me avoid an accident for my first year of driving. I have witnessed many near accidents because of people changing lanes irresponsibly, not using turn signals, and going way too fast for the traffic conditions. Another accident experience that resonates with me happened when I was in elementary school. My father got a call from my mother that she was hit by an irresponsible driver. The other driver had blown through a stop sign going through the intersection slightly over the speed limit. She hit the front of my mom’s car, totaling it, then ran aground into a small tree, almost completely off the road. My mom was freaked out by the experience and was a little queasy driving through that intersection in the ensuing months. These experiences have also helped me shape an internal map of where I am when I drive so my destination is known and so I am able to anticipate the traffic patterns and signs along my trek.

As a young driver there are some things I can do to make the road a safer place. I can obey traffic laws, discuss safe ways to improve driving with my peers, and encourage my close friends to plan out routes that are outside of their normal commute. The planning of a trip will allow the drivers to leave with an ample amount of time for the journey. This will ensure that drivers travel at the posted speed limits and do not create a dangerous environment for the people in that vehicle and other vehicles on the road. Other factors that can be brought into the planning include weather conditions and holiday traffic which can have adverse effects on a drive. These actions prepare drivers, achieve safer roads for all, and reduce deaths across the United States.