Three Ways to Prevent Car Accidents

Receiving a driver’s license is one of the greatest feelings a person can have, second to driving a vehicle. But what responsibility comes with that license? Car accidents are one of the biggest causes of death in the world. As drivers, we are all expected to drive responsibly and be sure we are doing the right thing while on the road, but that is not always the case. I believe we can reduce the number of accidents and deaths by making sure that drivers are well-educated on the road, making stricter laws, and helping each other be better drivers.

Driver education is a significant factor regarding accidents, and the number of deaths, as a result. Studies and reports would argue that teaching a novice driver the rules of the road does not reduce the number of accidents. I disagree; if no one knew how to drive or understood traffic signals, the number of accidents and deaths would be much higher than it is now. Teaching drivers would help reduce the number of deaths due to accidents. There would be a better understanding of what to do while driving, as well as what not to do. Driver education is just the first step in reducing the number of car accidents.

According to Stanford Law School, at least ninety percent of all automobile accidents are caused by human error, and I believe this. When I was younger, my biological mother had dropped my sister and me off at a Boys & Girls Club, and as she was driving out of an empty parking lot, she crashed into a light post. How does someone manage to do that? Well, the answer is she was distracted. The number one cause of accidents is distracted drivers, whether they are looking at their phones or not paying attention to the road. To help reduce the number of accidents, I would propose making a law that prevents drivers from touching their phones while they are driving. It should not take a crash or death for the driver to realize that using their phone while driving is a bad idea. Furthermore, to enforce this law I think the consequences should include jail time or a large fine, one that is affordable but can make a big dent in the driver’s wallet.

Another concern when it comes to driving is drunk drivers. Intoxicated drivers are the second-largest contributor to accidents. Right now, there is a law that makes driving under the influence prohibited, but it is almost non-existent due to the number of people that still do it. Rather than amending this law on the road, there should be a law that applies to drivers going to bars or liquor stores. I think that bar owners should not be able to serve drivers any alcohol unless they have a designated driver with them, or the owner calls a cab/Uber to take them home. I strongly believe this would help reduce the number of accidents on the road because denying a driver alcohol does not leave any room to crash due to intoxication. Knowing that there are people in the world taking advantage of their driving ability is very upsetting, especially when those cause the death of a person, and I think there need to be laws to prevent this from happening.

Now, the truth is some people do not follow the law regardless, but that does not mean they are a lost cause. Family and friends have a considerable influence on the decisions we make in our lives. I am nineteen years old and working toward obtaining a driver’s license. Once I can drive, I know I can do a lot to be as safe as a driver as possible. The suggestions I made are things I’m very passionate about, and I plan to make sure I will drive responsibly. I can be a better driver by making educated decisions and always staying vigilant on the road, but that is just me. I can help others be better drivers by sharing my knowledge and informing them of the dangers and consequences when driving recklessly on the road, and hopefully, they will share this information with the people they know as well. If we would all just help and encourage each other to be better drivers, there would be one less thing to worry about in our lives.

For the past two years, the number of accidents has been slowly decreasing, which is a wonderful thing. However, I think that if we take this time to act on making sure every driver is well-educated, make stricter driving laws, and help others to be better drivers; we can decrease the number of accidents and deaths at a much more efficient rate.