Driving is an important part of any person's life, but one should not drive unless they are aware of the consequences of doing so. As a member of the youth advisory board it is my duty to help make people aware of the proper precautions one must take while driving. Car accidents can happen from any number of things, but according to the study Factors Affecting involvement in Vehicle Crashes, when outside factors are under control the person behind the wheel is far more liable to cause an accident than the environment he is driving in.
One major cause of accidents is from intoxicated drivers. Luckily drunk driving caused accidents have decreased from 57% of all accidents in 1982 to 41% in 1995, but with this report the 41% will be decreased even more. The reason people should avoid driving after consuming alcoholic beverages is because of all the losses they stand to have. Thanks to the strict laws enforced now, a person driving drunk could be placed in prison, have their car and license taken from them, or they could be killed. Men should especially watch out for this since according to Prevention Magazine men are twice as likely to drive after drinking than women (23 percent vs. 12 percent).
The most important people that must be enlightened by this report are younger drivers, not just because they are new to driving but also because they are the most likely to get into an accident. Drivers under the age of 20 are most prone to get into accidents and because of this their insurance rates are extremely high. Perhaps if young drivers are more precautious these rates will lower of the years. Many young people are already taking motions to fight these high rates. They are working toward "age-free" insurance where they will be required to pass rigorous tests and sign contracts, and then if they follow these rules they will be eligible for refunds from the insurers. .
Though young drivers are the most dangerous on the road right now, that does not mean older drivers are safe.
