Can you imagine yourself stepping out on the street, casually walking in the middle of it without a care in the world? Sidewalks existed even during the eras of horse carriages. Nevertheless, committing a road safety breach may have cost less back then.
Today, a pedestrian or driver is almost perpetually vulnerable to accidents. Speeding automobiles can leave one dead on the spot or crippled for life in the blink of an eye. Faster and smoother commuting has invited separate problems.
The unsatiated human heart craves more speed and more streamlined solutions. In the rut of acquiring these, kindness on the road is often sacrificed. Not sure what that is about? This article’s focal point will be road crashes along with the pressing priority for thoughtfulness.
The Alarming Problem of Road Accidents
First things first: road accidents are a growing problem worldwide. However, for the sake of time’s brevity, we will concentrate solely on America’s issue (and it’s a unique one!). An article by the New York Times was released in this direction towards the end of 2023.
The 1920s were a dreadful age when daily newspapers broadcasted numerous incidences of vehicle crashes across the US. Advanced automobiles and better city planning brought things under control in the following decades.
All that progress seems to have gone down the drain since the 2010s. The US’ graph for auto accidents has been steadily rising compared to other countries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) made the tragic discovery that over 40,000 people died in road crashes in 2023.
Among the worst cities in this matter were Memphis, Baton Rouge, Albuquerque, Macon, and St. Louis. Drivers must be especially careful on the roads of these ‘offenders’ if they do not wish to become the next statistic.
The Main Causes of Crashes (Mostly Avoidable) and Outcomes
Simply knowing the issue at hand, even in depth, does not help. We need to understand the primary causes of America’s road accidents as well as the price that they demand. Let’s dive into some of the most common ones in detail.
- The New York Times article we just mentioned discusses the role of smartphones and other media in road crashes. These technologies, albeit designed for good, can create massive distractions. Drivers often get lost in a maze of phone calls, text messages, music, or videos.
- The NHTSA notes that almost one-third of accident fatalities can be attributed to speed. Many motorists are in haste or they simply enjoy the thrill of a fast ride/drive. As a result, they may violate prescribed speed limits or cut/overtake other vehicles in the vicinity.
- The third contributing factor to crashes is intoxication. Generally, the legal Blood Alcohol Count (BAC) for driving is 0.08. Reckless drivers may not care for the established rules and enter the roads with even 0.24 BAC. In such cases, accidents become inevitable due to loss of control.
- The fourth major factor will encompass all manner of road safety violations. Some drivers do not pay attention to the signage or they may not care for red lights, lane driving, or wearing safety gear. These make the violator a ticking time bomb on the road.
Keep in mind that the above-mentioned causes are driver-related to keep in line with the article’s focus. There can be factors that are beyond one’s control that lead to an accident, including poor weather conditions, bad road lighting, incompetent city planning, etc. These may even work alongside driver indiscretion to cause the fated incident.
As per TorHoerman Law, the outcomes of most road accidents are tragic. Notwithstanding deaths, the victims may suffer from severe injuries like deep lacerations, third-degree burns, broken bones, spinal cord or brain trauma, and more.
Unless a single vehicle is involved, road accidents also accompany a series of tough legal battles. Let’s take the example of Missouri’s St. Louis. This city ranked fifth among the worst-driving cities in America. However, in terms of being dangerous overall, it ranks number three in the country.
Besides road accident fears, St. Louis’ residents live in fear of financial instability, homicides, and natural disasters. When a multi-vehicle crash occurs here, a truck or car accident lawyer in St. Louis must intervene on the plaintiff’s behalf.
Since most cases involve more than one liable party, the legal war is difficult to win as a one-man army. It can take weeks or months before a fair resolution is made.
Why ‘Every Man for Himself’ is Not for the Roads
Just picture this scenario if you will – every driver on the road of America is just looking out for himself. On the surface, this may make sense because recklessness is bound in the hearts of some people no matter how careful the others are.
However, if each motorist follows the philosophy of ‘every man for himself,’ the number of crashes and fatalities will only rise. It cannot always work with the mentality of ‘the other driver.’ A major obligation of being an independent motorist is to be considerate of other drivers and pedestrians.
The scenario would become a lot less perilous if every vehicle owner and driver carried a sense of accountability. They must bear the burden of paying forward kindness on the road.
This would mean something as simple as not running red lights to something as complex as grasping the meaning of certain signage. Keeping all important guidelines and regulations in mind is worth the effort.
In a nutshell, kindness during the commute is the pressing need of the hour. What would that look like, besides being mindful of basic traffic rules? It may take the form of leaving the home early so there’s no need to rush.
It could also look like patiently allowing the car in front to pass over without yielding to the urge to overtake or blast the horn. Acts of kindness may seem trivial, but their echoes can be truly endless. In this case, they could be the difference between life and death!
