In the Blink of an Eye

Madysen
Kambich

In
the Blink of an Eye

   
When
I was in grade school, I was at home waiting for my dad to get home
as well. I remember my mom getting a call from a first responder and
told her my dad had been in an accident. He wasn’t hurt, and
neither was the other person, but it definitely could have been
avoided. The man that hit my dad wasn’t paying attention and did
not see my dad put on his blinker and start to slow down on the
highway. Although everyone was okay, that’s not always the case. 

   
The
first step in reducing car accidents and deaths related to car
accidents is drivers ed. Ensuring that everyone on the road
already has the right education that they need to keep themselves and
others safe while on the road is so important. Knowing the laws and
rules of the road can save lives and prevent so many accidents. In
the United States, every 13 minutes a person’s life is taken in a
motor vehicle incident. That is about 115 per day, 3,000 people die
each day worldwide from car incidents. These are so  many lives
that could be saved just by ensuring that before anyone is legally
allowed on the road, they have the proper knowledge about driving and
road safety.

   
Some
other factors besides the lack of education that causes car accidents
include distracted driving, driving while impaired, and speeding. 1
out of every 4 car accidents in the United States are caused by
texting and driving. Simply putting your phone in a place where you
aren’t tempted to use it while driving could stop so many deaths
that are caused by distracted drivers. Everyone should at least
consider putting their devices on silent while they are driving to
reduce the distractions while driving. Driving under the influence is
also another thing that could completely be avoided. If you are
drunk, on drugs, or too tired to drive, there are many alternative
ways to get home. Some include calling a friend, getting an uber,
walking, or taking the bus. 

   
Overall,
every small step makes a difference when it comes to safe driving. A
life can be taken in a blink of an eye, so we shouldn’t take any
day for granted. Everyone should educate themselves, buckle up, and
stay focused on the road ahead of them.