Let’s Make A Change

Travon Moore

2022 Drivers Ed Essay Contest

01/04/22

1.35 million people, dead! Did you know that about 1.35 million people die each year in a car accident, and on average 3,7000 people die every day from road accidents (According to the Association For Safe International Road Travel)? Those are families being torn apart. Mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, children losing their lives each day due to an unfortunate accident on our roads. Those numbers are far too high, and need to be decreased.

It is important to be fully educated on the rules of the road and how to properly operate a vehicle. Driving may seem like a simple task but it is not. Driving is a skill that takes training, awareness, alertness, consideration and the list goes on. When first learning to drive, many people take driving classes, and not just on the road, but in the classroom as well. I believe it is important to have just as much time in the classroom learning about how to drive (possibly even more) than actually being on the road and learning. Operating a vehicle can seem simple and many people view it as such, with this mindset and lack of knowledge, this may result in reckless driving, unsafe driving, which can lead to death. That is why learning how to be a defensive driver, and always checking your blindspots, and knowing how much room to leave in between cars when there are poor weather conditions is extremely important, and can aid in lowering the death rate due to road incidents.

In addition to ensuring all drivers have the proper education when it comes to driving, here are some other steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving. There are the obvious billboard signs that can be posted around to remind people about driving safer. Some signs can add statistics on, for example, the number of people that have died in that town specifically due to driving incidents, just to make the situation more personal. Many people do not actively react to issues unless it directly affects them or they relate to it. Another step that can be taken is greater car technology. There is already a great amount of car technology that has features like warnings when you are approaching a car too close, notifications when a car is in your blindspot, seat belt alarms when you do not have your seatbelt on, etc. I feel those features are greatly important and it would be useful if all cars had at least one feature to help to keep the driver and passengers safe. Having stricter laws is something that could also be beneficial. Many people view laws as a negative concept and some refuse to obey them, however to ensure the safety of others, laws do not have to be viewed in this negative light. Having no phone in hand while driving law is helpful. Possibly having speed cameras, similar to red light cameras but ticket people caught speeding, just so the number of individuals who speed can be reduced which will hopefully decrease the number of deaths. Another step that can be taken is possibly having more commercials on tv informing people about driving carefully and providing facts. Also having ads on phones about safe driving could be a consideration. It would be right in peoples faces and these days many people own smartphones. If the ads that pop up on smartphones during a YouTube video, or on a game that may reduce the number of deaths due to road accidents. It could be an ad about safe driving, or anything related to helping the issue of lowering the road accident death rate.

Personally I have only been in a few minor car accidents, luckily everyone in the vehicle was safe, but I do know many people who have been injured and even lost their life due to a road accident. Many of my friends have been victims of reckless driving and sent to the hospital. Fortunately they were safe, just a few injuries, and I can say today they are happy and healthy. However, a few years ago I lost a family friend, he was killed in a motorcycle accident. There needs to be a serious decline in the number of deaths due to road accidents.

From here on out, I will become a better and safer driver; as well as help other people so they too can be a better and safer driver. I will make sure to always wear my seatbelt when I drive, and enforce that everyone I drive with wears theirs. I will make sure to stay off of my phone when driving and call others out when they are on theirs when they drive. I will never drive under the influence, and also make sure that people have safe ways to their destinations if they are considering intoxicated driving. Funerals are expensive, Ubers are not. I will make sure to be aware of everything and everyone when I drive, because even if I am a good driver, I can not trust that the individual next to me is. Practicing defensive driving is important. Overall I will make sure to follow the rules and try to be safe. Driving is a privilege that should not be taken lightly.