2022 Driver Education Initiative – Building a More Conscious Society and Minimizing the Possibility of Car Accident Fatality

“Better to lose a moment in life, than loosing life in a moment” (Sapir Amar). This phrase may sound tragic, which can end up tragic if one doesn’t drive responsibly. However, there are ways to reduce the possibility and likelihood of car accidents, which one of the main causes of death. Car accidents are a major concern as people lose their life for careless distractions that take place during driving. It is found in society that people are texting, eating, playing in the phone, and concentrated in so many extra tasks; however, they forget the main reason that they are using their vehicle, which is for the purpose of transporting from one place to another.

Around 1.3 million people lose their lives every year. It is brought that 1 in 3 traffic deaths are caused by drunk driving in 2019 and that the ages of 25-44 have the highest number of fatalities. These statistics represent the largest source of death of young adults in the United States. It is important to note how a vehicle can be a useful tool in transporting and commuting from one destination to another, however, it has the risk of making car accidents as many of the car accidents are human error. Usually, the main causes for car accidents are interruptions that are a cause from distractions that deviate the attention from the route, paying attention to cellular texting, making calls, and watching your Facebook or Instagram feeds are also main sources of distractions. Some drivers decide to take the risk of driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Alcohol delays the time reaction, as it makes the driver sleepier or less attentive to the route. Alcohol has such a fast effect on the brain that when it is processed in the body it takes a matter of minutes to feel the reaction. Therefore, alcohol possess a great threat to drivers’ as well as to their passengers and surrounding, as alcohol can be a great source of danger, especially when it is dark outside. As our sight is more limited in the night, drinking alcohol and then driving can be prone to accidents.

The following example is a real-life example that even though it is not an example specifically related to alcohol, it describes the danger of driving when one is not feeling fully capable of driving. I was one day at work, where my friend and I decided to stay longer at work after our shift that night to chill and speak. I remember it was around 1:15am when we decided to head back each one to his house. Once we decided to leave work, my friend took his car and drove home. I remember getting a phone call from him as he was very nervous and hesitated as he told me that he was involved in a car accident that night. He reported to me over the phone that during that night he fell asleep on the steering wheel of the vehicle. At first, I couldn’t believe to what I am hearing. However, since I was a moment ago with him at work, I tried to relax him and offer him my help. My friend told me even though he is feeling good, his car got destroyed. I decided to call the ambulance as my friend needed help and was reporting to me that he got minor pain and hit in the back and knee because of the car accident. His car got completely disabled and ruined to the point that he lost his car, thankfully my friend did not lose his life.

It has been proven that texting and loud music can be a big source of distraction. Even though falling asleep on the wheel may be totally out of our control, it is important to think two steps ahead and try to minimize the possibility of making an accident. If you are too drunk or sleepy to drive, make sure you don’t drive. Driving is not a joke and society must take this seriously. I see carless drivers speeding up when the traffic light is either already red or turning red. Make sure to be mindful and careful of your surrounding and always be aware of your pedestrians and other vehicles that are around you. It is important to make sure to use your mirrors properly and to check all the mirrors before passing a lane. It is known that most of the car accidents happen near your house. Make sure you place your sit belts tightly and that music is not load to the point that it distracts you from your driving experience as well as other people that are walking outside.

All in all, make sure to drive according to the rules and maintain your speed under the rules, so that if you are driving in a highway and you need to slow down or instantly stop, you won’t need to react too drastically nor be worried of a car accident. I recommend purchasing a car utility that is called MobileEye, which provides advanced driver assistance that alerts you in you if get too close to another car while driving (alerting you from colliding to another car), or if you crossed a lane unresponsible.