Unsafe Driving Awareness

There are many reasons why traffic accidents occur, all though some are more common then others. Take the elderly for example. They have fading eyesight and much slower reflexes. Others like to drink and drive. Adding alcohol to your blood stream slows you down, impairs your reflexes and judgment. That’s just plain dumb. It causes numerous amounts of deaths each and every day. Last but not least would be cell phone usage. The rate of accidents caused by talking on the phone without a head set along with the new trend of texting has sky rocketed statistics.

As we get older our senses change a huge deal. Vision and slower reflexes play a big roll in elderly accidents. As Fading eyesight and mental confusion come into play, it can cause serious car mayhem. Many states still give drivers licenses even after failing to pass a quick response test or simple exam.

One of the biggest problems with traffic accidents according to Alcoholalert.com is drinking and driving. They state that there are 15,000 deaths caused by DUI’s (Driving under the influence) out of the 40,000 that occur each year. Most that are involved in a DUI are male and under the age of 25. Many of these young men combine drag racing with little driving experience. It becomes catastrophic.

Finally there is cell phone usage. More and more think it’s okay to multi task while driving. The University of Utah held a study recently and found that someone behind the wheel texting or talking on their phone at the same timer are six times more likely to be in an accident then other drivers that have their full attention on the road. Edgarsnyder.com states that everyday of the year people are texting or talking on cell phones while driving. This results in half a million accidents over 5,000 involving fatalities.

When it comes to driving we shouldn’t compromise our safety as well as the safety of others on the road. We all need to stop and use our heads. Thinking about the accidents that are caused by these and many many others on a daily basis would slow down or even stop deaths across America. So when you jump behind the wheel remember, our lives are important. Drive smart.

Tiffany Dean