The Euphoria of Speed Doesn’t Last In a Coffin

People don’t need to be afraid of flying in planes, spiders, or the boogie man. The irrational fears that grip them tight will not hurt them. What they really need to be scared of is the unforeseen monster. What they need to be scared of is the tool that they use every day. What they need to be scared of is what they get in every morning, evening, and night, and rely on to take them everywhere. What they need to be scared of is their home away from home, their loyal and faithful car. Motor vehicle deaths were ranked as the number two death among all ages according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. We, as a society, can all do our part, both individually and collectively, in order to make the roads a safer place for everyone. Millions of people all over the globe have tragically and needlessly passed away due to either negligence or accidents on the roads. This needs to end, and we all need to pitch in to ensure that it does.

The importance of driver education is insurmountably dire. If we are not properly educated on how to drive safely, we may never know how easy it can be to lose control of our vehicles. One quick glance at a text, one seemingly minuscule nudge on the accelerator, one moment of careless distraction could be the difference between your friends laughing with you in the car, to them mourning you in your coffin. Being properly educated on road safety can not only save our own lives but countless pedestrians and fellow drivers as well. This is why we must feel confident in the laws of the road before getting behind the wheel, to make sure that we make no mistakes. Along with this, we have to take steps to educate the young members of society, like our children, younger siblings, and younger cousins, about the laws related to driving. This way, when they mature and get their licenses, they will already have the foundations of a good driver in their minds. Being firmly educated is a must, especially when you take the lives of yourself and others in your hands.

In 2020, roughly 30% of all car fatalities were attributed to speeding. While this doesn’t sound like much at first glance, that is approximately 11,258 lives that were lost. That is 11,258 people who will not celebrate their next birthday. That is 11,258 people who will not make it home to their kids. That is 11,258 people who won’t get another chance to tell their parents they love them. That is 11,258 families and friends who had to bury their loved ones. To reduce the number of deaths related to driving, we have to be conscious of the speed limits in the areas that we drive in. We have to know the speed limits at all times and obey them. Many people think that it is fun to test the boundaries and push the gas as far as they can, however, I can guarantee that it would not be fun anymore if they knew they are risking the possibility of never seeing their family again. If people collectively stopped speeding, then thousands of lives per year would be saved.

While in the car with my friend, I did watch her driving irresponsibly once. She was going quite a bit over the speed limit. At the time, I didn’t yet have my liscense, so I did not really grasp how fast she was going. After I realized however, I talked to her and tried to get her to slow down her driving habits. She, after a lot of talking, could see my point and agreed to slow down. Nowadays, she drives at the exact speed limit and never speeds, and I always feel safe while she is behind the wheel. I believe everyone makes mistakes, however, when you realize your mistake, you need to fix it immediately. Like my friend, countless teenagers speed due to the fact that they underestimate the severity of what may happen. As long as everyone works together to teach each other the dangers of speeding, an abundance of vehicle crashes will be avoided in the near future.

To be a better driver I plan on always ensuring that I follow the speed limits, both in familiar areas and in locations where I’ve never been before. For others, I will educate them on the dangers of speeding and make sure that they are following the road signs while I am a passenger in their vehicles. If people truly attempt to stop speeding, who knows the amount of lives that we could save in the end. Driving can be dangerous, but if we all pitch in and do our parts, we can make the roads a safer place for everyone.