Preventable Tragedies: What We Can Do To Make The Roads Safer

We need to hold a high value to human life, and respect it. By following laws and morals, we can try to prevent more deaths from automobiles. With the numbers always increasing, we can't afford not to do anything about it.
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Every day you probably get into your car, start the ignition, and hit the road like it's nothing. You drive to wherever you need to be without even thinking twice about getting into an accident. The truth is, your odds of causing an accident are very low if you are being attentive and following the law. The only problem is that others may not be so vigilant. In fact, there were almost 30,000 deaths in 2014 from car accidents alone. The sad fact is, so many of these deaths are preventable. DUI's and distracted driving counts for a vast majority of fatal car accidents, and this needs to be stopped.

The worst thing you can hear is that an innocent person (or people) was killed by a drunk driver. It happens all too often, and it's heartbreaking. Not only does it take away the lives of others, but the drivers' lives are forever changed too. One stupid decision made in a drunken stupor can completely devastate a number of people, so it's time to make a change. I know that judgement gets clouded after a few too many, so that is why you need to plan ahead of time while you are still sober. Get a game plan; take a cab wherever you are going so that you don't even have the choice to drive home. Do whatever you have to do so that you do not end up behind the wheel later. It is 100 percent your responsibility to prevent yourself from making that mistake.

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Picture from Pixabay.com

Every time I find myself cruising down the highway and I see a big-rig coming my way, I tense up. I've seen the videos, I hear the stories- I know what those machines are capable of doing. One wrong move and I could end up in front of that truck and it wouldn't end well. It's scary to think about, but it's a reality. In 2013, semi-truck accidents made up almost 9 percent of all fatal car accidents, which is very high compared to the rest of the country. Why are these accidents so high in California? Aside from standard reasons like fatigue and blind spots, California is a huge shipping market. Freight shipping is a huge market all over the country, however, and these accidents happen all over. The best that you can do is to ensure you are not driving distracted, and stay alert.

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Picture from Pixabay.com

Another preventable cause of roadside tragedies is road rage. Many people joke about their road rage, or even take pride in it. It's usually innocent, and will never lead to anything- but that isn't always the case. There are many times when someone got a little too enraged after being cut-off, that they injured or even murdered the other driver. No matter how mad you get, something like lack of courtesy on the road is not worth taking a life for. These warning signs are easy to spot on occasion; if you are easily angered or have a hard time controlling your emotions, seek psychiatric help before you do something you will regret.

What can we do to stop fatal car accidents from happening? The truth is, we can do a lot! Whether it's hiding a drunk friend's keys, insisting your friend that is driving to get of their phone, or simply being more focused on the road, these things can make a huge difference. We need to be realistic and realize that these awful accidents we see on the news everyday could have easily been any one of us. We need to hold a high value to human life, and respect it. By following laws and morals, we can try to prevent more deaths from automobiles. With the numbers always increasing, we can't afford not to do anything about it.

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