Road safety is one of the overriding issues that is to be considered worthwhile and should be given an upfront measure, regarding human safety on the road. According to the available statistics, road carnage has claimed more lives vis-a-vis other tragedies that amount to death and the principal causation have been proclaimed to be reckless driving often taken as a traffic violation. Careless driving attributes to reckless driving, which is an aftermath of driving under the influence of alcohol, use of mobile phones while driving or any other destructions that limit drivers concentration and impair driving with due care. The diminution of careless driving is different from one country to another, and it depends on the laws of the country. For instance, careless driving in Saudi Arabia is vehement because the rules are not vivid enough to check on the motorist, while, in the U.S, it is sporadic due to the hard-line judiciary in this matter. In the United States demographics applauds that the vehicle collisions and accidents that occur on the road, more than 70% are attributed to reckless driving (Cunningham 55). These reckless drivers are known to ignore roads signs and do not consider other road users thus making everyone on the road prone to road accidents. Most recently it has become apparent that teenagers are more prone to careless driving and road accidents, manifested by the rising number of teenagers coming into hospitals as casualties from the road catastrophes. In light with this, researchers have undertaken studies on public careless driving, but none has come up with a comprehensive review of teenagers and careless driving. Therefore, the audiences for this proposal are the teenagers.
In most cases, careless driving is ascribed to driving while under the impingement of alcohol or any other substance that alters the mechanism of the body and that can sum up to body imbalance and lose of concentration (Cunningham 65). In the United States, a study that was conducted stated that, in duration of twenty two minutes, one person dies as a result of drunken driving (Cunningham 84). This is an alarming rate, and as much as it is hard to believe, careless driving is responsible for the numerous numbers of deaths as a result of road carnage. Research carried out by Mothers against Drunken Driving (MADD) in comparison with other causes of road accidents stated that drunken driving was the number one highway protection predicament (Cunningham 98). Compared to the earlier years, the number or deaths and injuries because of drunken driving, had reduced significantly although the rates were considerably high. In the years 1993 to 1996 the rate of alcohol-related accidents had risen notably, but in the year 1997, a decline in the trend was observed and the number of causalities involved in drunken-driving accidents had reduced. According to Cunningham, an increase in alcohol blood content to 17% or above, is the leading contributor to the reduction of concentration and this initiates better chances of careless driving (109).
The other fatal factor that contributes to careless driving is the use of cell phone. In the 21st century, cell phones have become a necessity, and they are required in every place to enhance communication, and despite this, it has posed as a hazard to people especially while driving. The use of cell phones to text, call, receive a voice message, surf the internet among others are a distraction to the driver and may divert the drivers attention from road signs and other traffic road users (Cunningham 152). According to research, it has also been proven that the incorporation of electronic devices like television sets and music systems has also contributed adept to the road accidents that are as a result of careless driving. It has been affirmed that drivers tend to lose concentration as they indulge more on the programs, in the television and radios and in turn it retaliates on calamitous road accidents. In conjunction to this, teenagers have contributed to a greater extent on this vital issue. Teenage driving accompanied by lack of enough experience and the skills required has contributed largely to careless driving and road accidents.
Education against careless driving can assist in the reduction in the number of road accidents. The people involvement together with the government and an apprehensive abidance to the law can facilitate a significant reduction to the number of road accidents. In order for the problem to be solved, a number of recommendations should be implemented, and this may include; education of teenagers on matters that relate to careless driving. Seminars should be held all over the United States by the government encouraging teenage drivers to be more careful when driving and to persuade them to take time to learn the basic driving skills before taking the car to the road. In order to reach the teens, advertisements should be placed in areas that teens frequent the most, for example, ice cream parlor, the malls, in schools and campuses. Parents should also take the responsibility of protecting their children from the issues of alcohol consumption and advice them in the exceptional care needed when it pertains to driving and road matters. It is also essential that the government comes up with strict laws and policies that govern the same. If these solutions work, the rate of road carnage in the United States will reduce significantly.
Concisely, Careless driving imputed from consumption of alcohol and the use of cell phones can be reduced if only and only if, the drivers adhere to the traffic rules and regulations. The utilization of electronic devices like television sets in the vehicles should also be prohibited in order to enable the driver to increase his or her concentration on the road. Consequently, drivers that are caught in this type of mishaps should be seriously acted upon by the law and severe punishment endorsed on them. Moreover, campaigns and education concerning the traffic and road issues should be taken seriously by the civilians and the government should ensure that people are enlightened, and the laws are followed to the later.
Works Cited
"Careless Driving - Driving without Due Care and Attention." Traffic Lawyer 4U Solicitors. 1 Jan. 2011. Web. 19 Apr. 2011. .
Cunningham Sally. Driving Offences: Law, Policy and Practice. Hampshire: Ashgate Publishing Limited, 2008. Print.
