My
Most Modest Proposal
Regarding
the Dangers of Driving and Saving Innumerable American Lives
The
number of vehicles which are involved in collisions each and every day is
staggering. The number alone of those reported to authorities numbers in the
tens of thousands. Especially effected are young people, being easily
distracted at the wheel, and the elderly whose vision and reaction time have
been dulled by age. With the population now numbering over 300,000,000 and
eliminating ten percent to account for those not yet old enough to drive, the
number of American drivers would be 270,000,000.
One-fourth
of this number represents teens between sixteen and twenty years of age. These
drivers are immature, inexperienced, and much more likely to cause a collision
than their more experienced counterparts. Another fourth would then represent
those drivers ages sixty and older whose failing vision and slowed reaction
time causes unsafe driving. Of the remaining half, those who are in fact safe
and cautious drivers must surely be a very small percent.
States
nationwide have enacted laws to prevent accidents due to negligence or
inexperience. For example, many states have laws which restrict the passengers
permitted in a vehicle with a driver who has been awarded their driving license
for the first six months to one year. Many states have also enacted laws
prohibiting the use of cellular devices to make calls or send text messages
while driving. These laws doubtlessly save many hundreds of lives each day.
Unfortunately
there are still many numerous causes for distraction that states fail to
regulate. Any seasoned parent will attest to the distraction that a car full of
children presents. It is doubtless, likewise, that pets in a car are equally
distracting. While these distractions may affect an inexperienced young driver
much more dramatically, it is certain that an experienced driver may become
just as easily distracted by children, pets, or friends. They may also be
distracted by food or drink. Worse yet they may engage in the efforts of
multitasking, which is so typical of American drivers. Women may put on
make-up. Men may put on their ties or shave. Even the act of changing a cd,
radio station, or the settings of a vehicle’s climate control system may lead
to disastrous ends.
More
dangers come to mind when considering the safety of drivers. Drivers who are
ill or emotionally compromised are less likely to drive safely. Drivers may be
in a region they are not familiar with, and therefore be ill-equipped for
inclimate weather such as snow or heavy rain. How many vehicles do we see on
the side of the road after a surprise snow shower? The number of crashes will necessarily
increase in these cases.
How
then do we eliminate the unnecessary deaths and injuries, and their related
costs to society at large caused by crashes and collisions? It seems a viable
option to restrict the use of motorized vehicles to state certified public
transportation. Wasn’t it the states themselves though who have certified so
many careless and inefficient drivers in the first place? What if we were to
create new, more stringent standards for drivers? Limit the act only to those
whose profession it would be to transport people and goods? Doubtlessly,
professional drivers would fatigue, especially towards the end of the work
week, and become just as apt to create a traffic accident.
Therefore
since motor vehicles are large and capable of destruction, and human beings are
fallible in their very nature, I propose we abolish the act of driving all
together. This not only eliminates those terrible accidents caused by motorized
vehicles, but there are also many other benefits. The obesity crisis which has
struck our nation would be necessarily eliminated. It would also practically
remove the need for oil. Lastly, it would promote a cleaner and more balanced
eco-system.
What
would we do with all of those confiscated motor vehicles, one might ask? We
will recycle them into bicycles to be used by each citizen over the age of six
years old. We can make special carriers for small children, groceries, and the
like. For larger loads, one could rent a horse and cart. This would not only
save many numerous lives and promote a healthy lifestyle, but would also
discourage the habit of accumulating unnecessary items.
For
intercontinental travel I would suggest trains, however, many recent stories of
train derailments and collisions prove that this would be as hazardous as using
a motor vehicle. Therefore I suggest that a traveler simple ride their bicycle
to the nearest airport and fly to their destination. Airplanes are
statistically the safest mode of transportation.
The
total elimination of motorized vehicles is the only sure way to save lives. With
the accumulation of more and more state regulations to ensure good decision
making, it would ultimately be the result. Why delay it? Proponents of
individual freedom may suggest that one must simply acknowledge that they are
making an active choice to ride or drive in a motorized vehicle; to recognize
the risk of life and limb because it is impossible to control the actions of
others. These same people may declare that it is as easy as taking
responsibility for one’s vehicle, for one’s passengers, and for every other
vehicle and pedestrian whom they pass on the roadway. In short, they would insist each person take
the responsibility to be careful and vigilant drivers. The very idea is absurd.
It
is not possible to convince people that motorized vehicles are dangerous, and should
be handled carefully and deliberately. No one would take responsibility for
their vehicle and their decisions while operating said vehicle. Nor would they be
respectful and thoughtful of each and every other vehicle and pedestrian simultaneously
using the roadways. It is true that each human being is capable of different
levels of cerebral activity. Ergo while one driver may be able to safely
multitask while driving, others may not.
How could this possibly be determined by the state?
Parents
do not teach their children to be respectful, cautious, or to know their own
limitations. Ad campaigns and parental education, or even programs in schools
to promote safe driving and critical thinking would cost the state too much
money. It would be a futile exercise. All of these facts are well known to be
true. Who would contest what I have said? Since it is in the best interest of
man to control his fellow man through governmental regulations on their
individual lives, and to dictate common sense instead of encouraging it, it is
therefore most expedient to instead abolish all motorized vehicles (cars,
trucks, SUV’s, scooters, motorcycles, et al) from use by civilian drivers. With
thousands of accidents occurring daily, I would add that the sooner this is
implemented the more lives will effectively be saved.
Liberty and Peace Politikrys
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