Every year, thousands of motorists and passengers are injured or killed in preventable accidents. Some of the primary contributing factors in today’s accidents involve a distracted, fatigued, or reckless driver. A substantial amount of accidents are a direct result of human error, but that doesn’t mean those types of accidents need to continue.

You don’t need to be involved in an accident or even lose someone you care about to care about safer driving in your community. Driving accidents can affect a whole community; here are some ways to get involved and raise awareness for safer driving.

Report Dangerous Drivers

Have you ever noticed a commercial truck driver swerving in and out of lanes on the highway or a young driver unlawfully texting while driving? You may feel like it’s not your place to intervene or maybe you aren’t sure if you would be of any help.

Reporting a dangerous driver can help to keep the driver, as well as other motorists, safer. The drivers may never be caught, and they might continue driving recklessly, but you’ll never know until you try.

Take commercial truck drivers, for example. A majority of them are dedicated to safety, but they might be stressed or tired while driving and make some poor decisions. If you notice a number on the back of the truck, call it and report the driver to the company. Otherwise, you can dial 9-1-1. Just make sure that you are adhering to your state’s traffic laws; it’s best to pull over safely to make a phone call.

Help Educate Young and Mature Drivers

Newly licensed teen drivers are some of the most inexperienced on the road, and they are more likely to get in an accident. If you have a teen driver, take the time to have an honest discussion about what your expectations are when he or she is driving.

Many teen drivers are smarter and safer if they are on the “same page” as their parents. Consider signing a pledge against distracted driving with your teen. One of the most effective things you can do is lead by example.

While teens have a reputation for being careless and taking risks, they are not the only demographic who could use a little extra help behind the wheel.

The aging population is more likely to be in an accident due to vision issues, slow reaction times, and other factors. If you have an elderly loved one who is still driving but may begin to have some issues behind the wheel, check out educational programs for seniors or talk with his or her doctor.

 Attend Community Events or City Council Meetings

The best way to raise awareness about issues like safe driving is to attend as many events as you can in your community or even attend a city council (or town hall) meeting.

Start an awareness page on social media, join a group that advocates for safe driving, put up yard signs that encourage drivers to be safe. Anything you can do to raise awareness, do it. If there are no events in your community, take action and take the lead for safer driving.

As the concept of self-driving vehicles continue to make headlines before making its way to the public for vast manufacturing many urban cities, Chicago included, are seeking answers about the development of the technology in self-driving cars and the future of the infrastructure for urban locations.

Many scientists and developers of the autonomous vehicle industry remain confident about the way the driving experience will be revolutionized. The nature of the driver experience will essentially take the responsibility out of the hands of the “traditional” driver and put this type of commitment into the trust of a machine. Although this seems like a great way to relax behind the wheel; many people are turning to experts in other industries to seek answers about questions that are beginning to arise.

Questions such as “Will self-driving cars be programmed to make moral decisions?”, “How will the morality of self-driving cars be legislated?”, and “How much control should be given to a machine?” are just a few making headlines. Researchers and concerned families can find answers by visiting, self-driving car resources, Forbes, and Science Magazine.

With such questions being raised, many drivers are wondering what to expect. Director of MIT Senseable City Lab predicts that newer technology may also forecast fewer vehicles on the road making transportation shorter in vast urban areas. With this taken into consideration, many are hopeful that the additional use of land could become use for more social and public spaces that were once used for vehicles such as parking lots and other auto related spaces.

Although this could be a hopeful future of the forecast of technology, there are others who argue that transportation could be less desirable for people within urban atmospheres, like Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles.

Overall, there are many opinions and families that dwell within highly populated areas are going to become more concerned as the concept of autonomous vehicles make it closer to the mainstream market. For those interested in the technology and development of self-driving cars, it is important to conduct research and be aware of your safety and the safety of others as we experience technology revolutionize the auto industry once again.