The number one most common cause of car accidents is distracted driving. In 2023, this resulted in 3,275 deaths and nearly 325,000 injuries, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently did a report on the traffic fatalities from January to July 2025 stating there was a 8.2% decline in roadway deaths from 2024. An estimated 17,140 people lost their lives from January through July, which is down 18,860 fatalities in the same time period in 2024. Additionally, 38 states all saw a decrease in traffic deaths which is incredible to hear, but I think all the stats and numbers can get even lower if we all play our part in sharing about impaired driving. Distracted driving is the number one cause but definitely not the only one. Every day, about 34 people in the United States die from drunk driving. That is one person every 42 minutes. That's crazy to imagine and understand. Alcohol reduces the function of the human brain which impairs thinking and muscle coordination. Think of it this way when the alcohol levels in a person increase, the negative effects of the central nervous system increases. About 30% of traffic crash fatalities involve drunk drivers. Even if there is no crash due to drunk driving there are definitely still consequences which include, permanent disabilities, psychological and emotional trauma, financial consequences, and legal penalties. Luckily, I personally haven't been in a car accident however, my former teammate has been. She was driving home from one of our high school volleyball games and got into an accident. She was distracted on her phone and ended up hitting a motorcycle carrying two passengers. Both passengers were severely injured and had to have both of their left legs amputated. It was really sad to hear the story especially since I knew both of the motorcycle passengers who were involved in the wreck. It's devastating to realize that both of their lives will never be the same all  because of one distracted teenage girl on her phone. This definitely made me more aware of the major consequences that come from something that seems so small like looking at your phone even for just a second. Even with the law of " Hands Free Tennessee" there are still people out there who drive distracted. When I'm driving throughout the day; I notice a lot of people on their phones while they are driving. One way we can decrease distracted driving is by being a voice in your community such as your school or workspace. Parents can also lead by example by not driving distracted in front of your teens or even if they are alone driving. Teens can always tell their friends to stop when they see them driving distracted. There are many ways traffic crash fatalities can happen and multiple ways for them to be prevented. We just have to step up and use our voices against it. The second biggest cause of traffic crash fatalities  is speeding. It might not seem like a big deal but as of 2024 over 11,000 people died from speeding. We all have been running late or in a rush, but speed limits are set in place to protect all drivers at all ages. When speeding you can lose control of the vehicle and make smaller stopping distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. If you ever notice a speeding vehicle always give them plenty of space because they can lose control at any time or slam on their brakes. Speeding is also tied to aggressive driving. If a speeding driver is tailgating you or trying to engage you in risky driving, use good judgment to safely steer your car out of the way.  If a driver is ever following or harassing you, never hesitate to call the police or drive to the closest police station. The best ways to avoid all of these incidents is by having better driving habits. Better habits include: driving sober, avoiding distractions, practicing defensive driving, following traffic laws and speed limits, and maintaining a safe following distance between you and cars. I am positive that drivers education and traffic school courses should be a required class for all high school students all over the United States. When students see all the stats of crashes and deaths from being distracted, they will change their outlook on being on their phone while driving. It might not persuade all the students, but I feel a good portion would change the way they drive and also be more cautious. I can personally help by being a more cautious driver and be more aware of the drivers who are distracted or swerving on the road. I can also tell other people all the bad things that come as a result from risky driving and you can too. Don't be scared and have a voice to stand up for what is right to help prevent risky driving and car accidents around the United States.