Road safety. and how it could be better

Forty-two thousand, seven hundred and ninety two. That number is how many people in the United States of America lose their lives in motor vehicle crashes each year on average. A countless number of American families, friends, spouses, and other loved ones are affected by each one of these deaths. However, the issue of road and driver safety and education tends to often take a back seat to some of the other ‘more important’ problems in the nation. So how can change be made? How can we minimize the injuries, accidents, and deaths incurred on our highways and roads?

It’s difficult to decipher where exactly this problem lies. Is it driver’s education? Is it in road quality? Could the issue reside in distracted driving? Of course, all three issues have a part in motor vehicle accidents, but the question is which one actually causes the most.

First, let’s take a look at driver’s education in America. No matter which state you live in, either a full-fledged driver’s license or a temporary license or permit is required to drive legally on roads. The ramifications on how to obtain a driver’s license or a permit vary from state to state, but generally, one has to be both a certain age and score well enough on a driver’s test or a permit exam. Is it possible that these tests and exams could simply be… too easy? Could these states be letting people who are simply bad drivers slip past the filter that the driver’s test is supposed to provide? Well, according to data, probably not. In fact, according to data from both Forbes and The Seattle Times, the states with worse drivers on average actually tend to have more difficult driver’s tests, rather than easier ones. Such an example is South Carolina, which is the number ten worst state in the nation in driving, but has the fourth most difficult driver’s test. It’s unlikely that driver’s education is truly the problem in these states.

So, it’s clear that driver’s education plays a minimal factor, but what about the driver’s attention to the road? During a driver’s test, very few people will drive the same way they will in practice2. According to the National Safety Council, driver distractions cause approximately 10% of all motor vehicle crashes. The most common distractions include texting, eating, talking on the phone, or adjusting the radio. These activities take a driver’s attention away from the road, and can reduce reaction time and awareness of surrounding traffic. It’s important to recognize that even using a hands-free device while driving can be a distraction, as it can still take a driver’s attention away from the road. However, only 10% of crashes isn’t exactly a majority… so there is still an underlying problem somewhere else.

Perhaps a majority of these accidents could be attributed to poor road quality. By using and comparing data from Statista and Policygenius, there is an immediately noticeable pattern. California and Texas crown the list of most car accidents, but also rank second and third on the list of states with worst road quality, with Texas coming in at forty-three percent, and California coming in at forty-four percent. According to this data, two out of every five roads in those states is considered to be a ‘low-quality’ road. Factoring in the population density of these states, it’s incredibly easy to see why the crash rates in these places might be so high. Huge cities with subpar road quality and high population density is a formula for disaster. Even with difficult drivers tests and sufficient driver’s education, the sheer amount of cars on the roads would make it a statistical miracle if even a fraction of the crashes already happening were reduced.

But the question now begs: what can we do to solve this? Well, the obvious choice would be to fix the roads, however, fixing every single poor road in the nation isn’t quite economically feasible, nor would it be possible in a short amount of time, so more must be done than simply ‘fixing the roads’. Instating slower speed limits, properly lighting darker roads, as well as tighter road law enforcement are all efficient and effective ways to minimize accidents.

Another important factor is the safety of the vehicles themselves. When vehicles become old and defective, they increase the risk of accidents. This is why regular vehicle maintenance and inspection are crucial to promote road safety. Driver’s exams could include more questions covering the subject matter of the car’s actual parts in order to keep automobile owners aware of the problems with their car and what to do to fix it.

In conclusion, road safety is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach. To effectively reduce the number of accidents and deaths on the road, a collaborative effort from both the government and the general public is needed. This includes promoting safer driving habits, improving road infrastructure, and implementing effective safety measures. Ultimately, the goal is to create a safer driving environment for everyone.