Dangers of Driving Essay -- Road Safety

What is as dangerous if not more dangerous than murder and suicide? A car accident is. Being in the seat of a vehicle put’s a driver’s life in jeopardy the instant they are in the seat of a vehicle. Adam Ford explains drivers licenses were issued first in the 1900s and conditions have changed substantially: More powerful cars exist, and more are on the road (Ford). With this notion, Ford explains why cars are more dangerous on the road; however, the types of cars that exist in present times are not the sole reason the road is more dangerous. John Pearson states, car accidents are the leading cause of death from ages three to thirty-five world-wide (Pearson). Mainly, drivers cause these car accidents. Cellphone usage in the US is one of the central contributors to car crashes, because the habits shaped from cellphone usage, such as texting generate danger. According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 500,000 people were injured and 5 ,500 were killed by distracted driving in 2009 (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). The road has become a progressively hazardous place with distracted driving on the increase. Additionally, alcohol misuse causes increased danger while in a car. Ralph Hingson, a Sc.D., states that of all alcoholic-related crashes in 2002, 4 percent caused death, and 42 percent caused injury. Hingson further asserts, in dissimilarity of the crashes that did not involve alcohol, 0.6 percent caused deaths, and 31 percent caused injury (Hingson). Deaths and injuries increased this much cannot be taken lightly. Furthermore, age is also a factor in why car crashes have increased in the last decade. Youth drivers are the primary users of cellphones, which means that they text... ...ows older their eyesight does diminish, and other drivers would also have the opportunity to know if they needed any glasses or contacts. Once an individual receives a license, they are certified to drive for life until they get caught drinking and driving. Works Cited Ford, Adam. â€Å"The Minimum Driving Age Should be Raised†. The Minimum Driving Age. (2009). 2-2. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 23 Nov. 2010. Hingson, Ralph. â€Å"Epidemiology and Consequences of Drinking and Driving†. Alcoholic Research &Health. 27.1 (2003): 63-78. SIRS Knowledge Source. Web. 2 Dec. 2010. Pearson, John. â€Å"Cellphone Bans Make Sense† Cellphones. (2009). 5-5. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. United States. Department of Transportation. â€Å"Faces of Distracted Driving†. Distraction.gov. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2010.