There has been a slight decrease in crashes in Colorado over the years, but reckless driving is still an issue around the world. If not cautious, a person can be involved in a crash, which could result in fatalities. In 2023, Colorado had 77,571 crashes and, on average, there are 6 million crashes in the United States yearly.
Risky driving can be classified through four main categories: drunk, drug-impaired, drowsy, and distracted driving. Out of the four, distracted driving is the most common and most dangerous out of the three. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that driving while texting is six times more dangerous than drunk driving.
A student driver from Delta High School, who wishes to remain anonymous, has had first-hand experience with a car wreck.
“I was coming from a school event and a fellow tried to shoot across the highway and hit us on the passenger side, causing us to spin. I was scared. I didn’t know what just happened. There were no injuries to any of us. Most damage was done to the car,” said the student driver.
Road rage is a perfect example of reckless driving. Many drivers get impatient with other motorists and start to release their anger. They either start by cutting off the driver, ramming into the opposing vehicle, throwing objects, etc. While doing this, they don’t realize that they’re endangering lives.
A total of 12,610 injuries and 218 murders have been attributed to road rage over a seven-year period in the United States. For Colorado, there have been 31,760 road rage incidents in 2022 according to Colorado State Patrol.
This goes to show that thousands of drivers are slowly getting even more impatient over the years and starting to cause problems on the road. The Zebra, an insurance comparison site that compares car and home insurance quotes, said that “Oftentimes, the driver is drunk, suffering from a mental breakdown or emotional strain, or simply just late and needs to get somewhere fast”.
How can risky driving be prevented? Always keep your eyes on the road and put your phone on Do Not Disturb. Call someone to pick you up if drunk or on drugs. Don’t depend on other drivers and stay at the speed limit. Finally, never start conflict with other drivers, be patient. If another driver acts recklessly towards you, don’t engage with them.
“I think we can prevent them by paying more attention when you are driving; it only takes one second to take a life. Just be careful and pay attention even if you aren’t driving,” said the student driver.
