Driving requires a tremendous amount of focus and attention. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is responsible for overseeing traffic safety rules and regulations, and the organization's mission is to reduce the number of traffic-related deaths and injuries.
Driving is more than simply operating a vehicle. Drivers are responsible for being aware of their surroundings and making sure that passengers, pedestrians, bicyclists and other vehicles are safe. Driving also requires the driver to respond to traffic congestion, roadwork and highway construction safely.
The NHTSA says that crash avoidance is one of the most important goals for developing traffic safety rules and regulations. Such rules and regulations include laws for speeding, wearing seatbelts, eliminating or minimizing distracted driving behaviors (such as talking on a cellular phone) and impaired driving. Drivers are also required to adhere to roadway signage, such as stop signs and pedestrian crosswalks.
Traffic safety is also dependent on the condition of roads and the construction workers who perform roadwork. If roads are in poor condition, drivers risk losing control of the vehicle and having an accident. When highway or road construction is underway, drivers must be warned by proper signage. If signage is absent, drivers can accidentally drive into a construction zone causing a crash or potentially injuring a road worker.
