Driving Reckless is NO Joke

Driving has become the new normal in modern life. Everyone is doing it. Millions of people own and drive cars in today’s time.Did you know on the average there are about 2.86 million cars sold each year. So if you really think about it, the more people who are driving means the more people who are on the roads, and the more people on the roads leads to us needing to be more cautious. Yes people are required to take a written drivers test to make sure you memorize and know the rules, but does that mean they will follow them? We are also required to take a driving test to ensure we know and understand how to operate and drive a vehicle, but that doesn’t ensure that they’ll be a safe driver. The truth is car accidents have risen dramatically in number in recent years. It is a very serious problem in society. Millions of people find themselves in car accidents every year. Along with thousands of people being killed from accidents, and thousands more receiving injuries anywhere from minor to major.

Drivers Education (aka Drivers Ed) is a crucial must have to construct a society of safe drivers. Not only does this drill information about each part of the road, whether it is lanes, signs, or laws, but it also gives drivers an understanding on what to do in a critical situation. Leading to the prevention of accidents. A study conducted in 2020 following teen drivers, showed that those who do not receive a driver’s education are “78 percent more likely to get a traffic ticket, 26 percent more likely to be involved in an accident that causes fatalities or injury and 18 percent more likely to be the cause of an accident.” Having this information shows just how much of an impact taking drivers ed can have on the road. Therefore some degree of drivers education should be mandated all over the globe before someone should be allowed to be licensed and behind the wheel.

The advancement of technology is rapid, and those devices we can’t seem to live without also tend to cause quite a bit of issues especially on the road. So the lack of education is not the only cause in play. Cell phones present a major obstacle in the world of driving. We have a habit of checking and being on our phones while behind the wheel. You would think that something this small wouldn’t do much harm, but that is where you are wrong. Actually estimated 1 out of every 5 accidents in America is caused by texting and driving. When driving or operating a vehicle of any kind must remain aware of their surroundings AT ALL TIMES. There needs to be a law that is more strict and has greater consequences when caught using a cell phone while driving. The fact that cell phones are still relatively new the accidents that fall behind them is greatly high.

As we age our body doesn’t function as well as it once did. A lot of older folks have deteriorated hearing and bad vision. Not only does driving rely on the attention to surroundings but also the cognitive and physical ability to react quickly. So older generations should be required to take a hearing and vision test every year or so to ensure the safety of themselves and people around them. According to a website on elderly accidents “an increase in age is positively correlated with a decrease in physical and mental capacity to drive.” So conducting tests to make sure all senses are still in good working condition or steps to make sure they will be in a good condition to drive, reducing the risk of accidents.

Though driving is almost a must have in today’s life it is still very dangerous and risky. You not only need to be aware of yourself but everything and everyone around you. I personally have witnessed on numerous occasions where people were recklessly driving. For instance, one time myself and my mom were coming back from my grandpa’s house and it started raining so we slowed down a little bit due to the roads becoming slick. On the left side of the road an 18 wheeler was heading in the opposite direction, and the car behind us whips over into the other lane and starts to speed past barely making it back over into the correct lane before getting by the truck. There was another time we were driving on the highway and had come to a stop light and the girl in the car over didnt stop and rear ended the car ahead of her because she was not paying attention.

It is extremely important that people take driving seriously. Driving in the real world is not a joke, many people get hurt and lose their lives because of it. Take the extra steps to ensure your safety and the people around you. Take the drivers classes, stay of you phone, and make sure you get your hearing and sight screenings so that way you can stay you best and safest on the road.