Question: YOU ARE THE CHIEF SPEAKER IN A DEBATE. WRITE FOR OR AGAINST THE TOPIC, “CARELESSNESS OF DRIVERS CAUSES ACCIDENTS”
Kindly take note of the following: 1. The above question is from the WAEC English 2023 second series. 2. The WAEC English Syllabus specifies a minimum word count of 450 words for any of the essays and letters. 3. To achieve this word count, your writing should take up at least 3 sides of the answer sheet. 4. This is an argumentative essay. 5. Be careful to stay on the side of the debate that you have chosen. 6. Outline and discuss at least three points in three different paragraphs to support your view. 7. Always wrap up a point of view in a paragraph, don't extend the point to another paragraph. 8. As with all other writings, you must close with a concluding paragraph.
Introduction
Good day moderators, co-debaters, ladies and gentlemen. I am here to support the proposition that the “carelessness of drivers causes accidents”.
Carelessness is the inability to exercise necessary care and attention to avoid negative consequences. An accident is an unintentional, sudden occurrence that often results in harm.
Statistics of Road Accidents Show that Drivers are Culpable
Statistics of road accidents show an increase in such occurrences. Reports indicate several factors that are responsible for the accidents. The factors include:
- Bad roads
- Speeding
- Carelessness or Negligence
- Lack of proper maintenance of Vehicles
Of the above factors, drivers of vehicles are directly responsible for all but one.
Carelessness of Drivers Causes Road Accidents
Oftentimes, drivers of vehicles are seen plying the roads at breakneck speed. They do not care about speed limits. Some of them may not be aware that speed should be reduced when driving within the city. They apply the same speed that they use on the highways to streets and lanes within the city. This behavior of drivers usually results in tragic accidents and loss of lives.
Untrained Drivers Contribute to Road Accidents
Some drivers are very careless when using the road. They don’t obey traffic lights or consider pedestrians.
When these drivers are confronted about their poor observance of road usage rules, they go ahead to boast that they have many years of driving experience and therefore cannot be wrong. They even go as far as disembarking the passenger whose offense was being cautious.
Again, some parents allow their teenage children to start driving their parents’ cars without going to the appropriate driving school. Since the youngsters did not learn the rules of driving, they are often careless and constitute a danger to themselves and other road users.
Lack of Proper Maintenance of Vehicles
To cut costs and make more profit, commercial drivers are fond of ignoring the maintenance of their vehicles. They put the vehicles on the road even when the vehicles are not road-worthy. They may be lacking a spare tyre or a fire extinguisher which could come in handy in the event of an accident.
Other drivers don’t bother to check the oil, tyre, radiator, and others, before speeding off to work. Such drivers don’t consider maintenance culture to be important.
This negligent behavior of drivers contributes to road accidents.
Conclusion
Accidents happen even with the best of preparations. However, most accidents can be prevented as they are traceable to human factors.
One of these factors is the carelessness that drivers exhibit by over-speeding, disobeying traffic rules, and not keeping their vehicles in good shape.
Moderators, ladies, and gentlemen, I hope I have been able to convince you that the carelessness of drivers causes: accidents.
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