There is a view that harsher punishments are the most effective way to keep roads safer. While this idea has some benefits as it encourages responsible driving and helps to reduce traffic accidents, I disapprove of it thanks to other better ways to improve safety of roads, like educating drivers and requiring to take regular driving tests.
Admittedly, there are several advantages of giving severe punishments for drivers. Chief of them is that penalties given to people can stimulate more responsible driving habits. Nowadays, many people are reckless about the speed, they accelerate to such an extent they do not respect other drivers and pedestrians, contributing to road accidents. Also, people even run red lights, when they have to stop until the the traffic signal turns green. Fining people is one of the penalties to discourage reckless driving. If people are highly taxed, they might be more cautious and low-abiding on roads, following all the road rules. However, if people repeat the same mistake, the fines they are given should be increased for the next time. Furthermore, temporarily suspending driving license can help prevent road accidents. Some people can even be drunk while driving after being at entertainment places such as restaurants and cafes. Suspending license from people who are drunk driving can also pre-empt car crushes and other accidents, thanks to severe consequences which make people more responsible. The suspension of driving license should be long according to the action people did on roads. Therefore, it is essential to give serious punishments for drivers.
Despite the arguments above I remain disagreeing that punishments are better to ensure road safety, instead, other ways of improving the condition of the roads should be implemented for drivers. One method that potentially has more impact than introducing serious punishments is providing drivers with regular education. The reason is that many road accidents happen due to lack of awareness about road rules and safe driving practices. Thus, governments should conduct educational programs for individuals with limited driving skills, focusing on road rules and the appropriate moments to increase or decrease the speed. These programs can be organized at local driving school or community centers to ensure accessibility for all learners. Additionally, taking driving tests can also be one of the substitutes for punishments. In many countries driving exams are taken only once if people do not fail. People’s ability to operate a vehicle may gradually decrease overtime as well as causing forgetting road rules. Conversely, requiring drivers to take exams per month or once every other month can be more efficient. By doing so, people can gain confidence in driving examinations, which may be useful on roads, leading to following rules and discouraging careless driving. Thus, rather than implementing severe penalties, other ways of ensuring road safety are more essential.
In conclusion, although I acknowledge potential benefits of giving serious punishments for drivers to keep roads safer including encouraging more cautious driving and reducing accidents, I am still of the view that there are more effective ways to achieve road safety, holding educational programs, so is demanding to take regular driving exams