I am no stranger to the dangers irresponsible and careless driving pose to our society. After all, that is how I became an amputee at the age of 6. Walking out of church one night, a driver backed into me, rendering my right leg useless and nearly taking my life. Since that day, I have remained vigilant to the hazards of unsafe vehicle operation. I am by no means advocating that we stop using motor vehicles. However, I do actively strive to be a safer driver — and you should too.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 1,433 traffic fatalities in North Carolina in 2008. These are far too many fathers, mothers and children who could have lived out their lives had it not been for errors in judgment.
Within the past year, I have increasingly seen more advertisements warning about “distracted driving.” At first glance, I assumed this was limited strictly to cell phone use, but I soon discovered that distracted driving is any activity that relinquishes a person’s focus while driving. This includes shaving, finding a lost CD and glancing at the attractive girl in the adjacent car. Nationally in 2008, roughly 20 percent of all crashes involved a distraction, leading to the deaths of 6,000 people and the injury of more than a half-million others. If you’re behind the wheel, the only thing you should be focused on is controlling your automobile.
In my senior year of high school, there were two crashes that struck the hearts of the student body. Both incidents involved high speeds and lead to the deaths of two students. It is a very strange feeling knowing someone that had been a familiar face since elementary school is no longer with us today. There is no excuse for someone to perish as a teenager because a need for speed is too great to put aside to get you home safely. Speed limits are posted for a reason, abide by them.
Today marks the beginning of the weekend for some. With this comes increased alcohol consumption. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but when a cocktail of alcohol, people and a motor vehicle is produced, the outcome isn’t good. In 2008, 423 traffic deaths in North Carolina were attributed to drunken drivers. Unfortunately, these are an unfortunate testament to sheer stupidity. If you’ve been drinking, don’t drive. Someone’s life is not worth the cost of your desire to get somewhere. Regardless of where your weekend plans may take you, drinking and driving is not the way to go.
There is a debt that must be paid for every benefit. The same is true of driving. Motor vehicles have revolutionized our society by allowing us to get places faster and do business more efficiently, but we must be cognizant of the dangers posed every time we find ourselves on the road. I am well aware that perfect driving will not occur in an imperfect world, but if we cut down on our distractions, speed and BAC while on the road, positive change will occur.
