Death Trap on the Road

You never know if going out to drive somewhere will be your last time doing so. People so often take life for granted, assuming that they’ll get home safe from school or work. It’s dark, but it’s the truth. Unfortunately, car accidents are very common and may be extremely tragic, and they can be due to the simplest mistake that results in the end of a life. Our loved ones mean the world to us, and being safe on the road is an important way to ensure that no one is harmed, because not only do crashes take lives, but they may also severely impair the lives of people who survive serious accidents.

Driving education courses are vital to people of all ages who are preparing to get on the road, especially teenagers. Adolescents make irresponsible choices- I myself am guilty of doing so- and this makes teens the most susceptible to accidents on the road and irresponsible driving behaviors such as speeding, rapid lane changes, and failing to pay full attention to the road and their surroundings. Driving education is a way for people to learn the ‘logistics’ of driving before actually going on the road. It teaches students what signs and road lines mean, the importance of sign colors, what to do at intersections, and how to work your car. These lessons are vital to understanding the basics of driving- knowing how to properly handle your vehicle and knowing what all the buttons and lights mean is the foundation. Knowing the signs and ways of the road ensures that students understand how to correctly drive and perceive information on the road before they actually attempt to drive.

Additionally, driving education emphasizes the dangers of driving. When I was taking my drivers ed course, I had to watch a video about a woman who lost her daughter in a car crash. Everyone knows crashes are heart-breaking and devastating, but seeing firsthand the intense emotional impact it has on the victims’ loved ones and looking at what a fatal wreck really looks like was horrifying. Seeing the reality of what can happen is a vital part of driving education in reducing the number of deaths via driving because it provides a reminder of what can happen to anyone that drives irresponsibly because no one is exempt from fatalities. Being educated on the rules of the road before going out to drive saves lives because it gives people an understanding of what is acceptable and what is not.

In order to try and reduce the number of driving-related deaths, there should be a heavier emphasis on the importance of not driving under the influence and wearing a seatbelt. Many people listen to the radio while driving, and including ads about the dangers of driving intoxicated and the importance of wearing seatbelts can increase awareness and influence people to take steps to stay safe on the road.

To be a better and safer driver, the most important key to preventing accidents is maintaining focus on the road and the area around you. When my dad was teaching me how to drive in between my driving ed courses, he always emphasized the importance of paying attention and being aware. We’re human, and humans make mistakes. A notification on your phone or trying to change the music while driving tends to move the focus away from the road, leaving a high risk for an accident. Being aware of the distractions and actively avoiding them in order to focus on the road is one of the most important things I do as a driver to try and ensure my safety and the safety of those driving around me. By simply letting the passenger control the music and putting your phone on silent, it could save lives. My dad also repeated one thing for me to keep in mind, and it sticks with me: Cars are a moving, metal death trap.

There were two girls that went to the high school that neighbors the one I attended, walking down the sidewalk after school. An 18 year old driver, going an astounding 81 MPH on a local road hit a car turning left at an intersection, causing the 18 year old’s car to bounce off the side of the road and hit the two girls walking along with a third pedestrian, then crash into a pole. Those two high school girls did not survive their injuries, and the third sustained life-threatening injuries. This tragic incident goes to show how some drivers, especially young drivers, don’t understand the dangers that come with driving and speeding, or the power of a car. It is a moving death trap. Everyone in my hometown was horrified and it was all people were talking about in school, and it certainly gave people an insight to what can happen if you don’t act responsibly.

Understanding the reality of driving and what the consequences are if a crash occurs is extremely important so that measures are taken to try and ensure safety. Lives can be lost and negatively changed, and those lives are worth driving safely and responsibly for.