Distracted Driving

Teens are excited when they learn to drive as it brings freedom and independence. However, teens often overlook the responsibility that comes with driving.  They overestimate their ability and downplay the danger.   This leads to devastating results as motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for teens.  In the United States about 2,800 teenagers were killed in 2019 due to automobile crashes. (Distracted Driving, 2022). Driver’s education is important in reducing the number of deaths; however, teens are required to go through this training, and still have one of the highest accidents rates. Most of these incidents are avoidable if the driver had not been distracted. 

Numerous distractions can increase the chances of an accident.  One of the major distractions is the cell phone. Today almost everyone has a cell phone and using a cell phone when driving creates a hazardous situation. In the parking lot at school, you often see teens on the phone while driving away. A study in 2019 found that 39% of teens who were polled had texted or emailed at least once when driving during the past 30 days. (Distracted Driving, 2022). This is concerning because it is estimated dialing a phone number when driving increases your chance of being in a crash by six times, and texting increases the chance by 23 times. Though it only takes a matter of seconds to read a text, it is estimated that looking at a text for five seconds at 55 miles per hour, is like driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed. (Distracted Driving). What a scary thought with over 8.3 million teenage drivers in the United States, approximately 102,270 miles are driven annually as if our eyes are closed. (Paulus, 2022).

Though less frequent among teens, talking to a passenger in a car is more dangerous than using your phone while driving. Teenagers often help transport their friends to and from school to after-school activities, or often when they go out on the weekends. It has been reported that more than half of distracted driving incidents are due to conversations being had with passengers (Bogage, 2021).  When you are in a conversation with someone you are mentally focused on the discussion.  This takes your focus away from your surroundings while driving. Teen drivers are “two-and-a-half times more likely to engage in risky behaviors when driving with one teenage peer and it increases three times with multiple passengers”. (Distracted Driving, 2022) Playing loud music, talking while looking at someone, singing, and laughing can be fun, doing so in the car is a distraction that pulls focus from driving. (How do Passengers). Though not as common, having passengers in the vehicle is one of the deadliest distractions.

Automobile accidents are avoidable. It starts with parents ensuring that teens take their driving responsibilities seriously and are held accountable for infractions.  They must instill that distractions should be avoided at all costs.  Phones should be put away while driving and not touched.  I knew that if I was caught on my phone while driving, I would lose my driving privileges along with my phone. Navigation should be set before putting the car in motion and if something critical is needed you should always pull over and stop before doing anything on the phone.  When I get in the car, I put my phone on do not disturb and place it in a location where I am not able to see the phone screen. Another technique is to turn the phone off and place it in the glove box. With the phone out of sight and not sending notifications it reduces the desire to check my phone. It is only when I stop and park that I look at the phone and return text messages. Some automobiles have the capability to handle hands free texting. This can still be a distraction and should be avoided if possible. It is also best not to have other teens in a car while driving but unfortunately this is not practical.  When someone gets in a car, they need to understand the dangers of distracted driving and the need for the driver to have complete focus. Expectations should be established for the passenger as well as the driver.  Parents should set criteria on the number of passengers allowed in the car.  Most importantly, the dangers of distracted driving should be thoroughly understood by teen drivers.   If we put distractions aside, slow down, and focus we can reduce the dangers to everyone on the road. 

I have taken an active part in the discussion regarding texting while driving through several of the programs I participate in at school. I am a Lieutenant in the police department’s Explorer program and was the Vice President of the Young Adult Police Commissioner’s program. These programs allow youth the opportunity to learn about the criminal justice system and participate in police training and practical exercises. In addition, we discuss current events with law enforcement and items that are impacting young people in our community. Texting and driving have been a topic of discussion among the peer group as phone usage while driving became illegal in Virginia. These programs have brought the topic of texting while driving to the table between law enforcement and youth. A focus was placed on the dangers of phone usage while driving and the implications as it relates to the law. In addition, I have personally set expectations for those that I ride with. I expect when I am in the car with someone that they set their phone aside and do not text while driving. By starting the discussion with parents, law enforcement, and young drivers, I have brought awareness to the dangers of texting and driving.

To reduce automobile accidents and the number of deaths associated with them phones should be put away while driving.  When someone gets in a car, they need to understand the dangers of distracted driving and the need for the driver to have complete focus. Young people do not always understand how fragile life can be and do not realize that they can easily become a statistic.  Parents should enforce this with young drivers and set no tolerance policies for phone usage. It is important young adults not only hold themselves accountable, but also those around them. If we put distractions aside, slow down, and focus we can reduce the dangers to everyone on the road. 

References

“Distracted Driving.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 26 Apr. 2022, https://www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/distracted_driving/index.html.

“Distracted Driving.” NHTSA, https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving.

Paulus, Nathan. “Teen Drivers by the Numbers: Population, Risks and Accidents.” MoneyGeek.com, MoneyGeek.com, 17 May 2022, https://www.moneygeek.com/insurance/auto/teen-driver-facts-and-statistics/#:~:text=Fast%2520Facts%2520About%2520Teen%2520Drivers&text=Over%25208.3%2520million%2520drivers%2520in,involved%2520in%2520motor%2520vehicle%2520accidents.

Bogage, Jacob. “This Surprising Activity Is More Dangerous than Using Your Phone While Driving.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 24 Nov. 2021, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/06/23/there-are-more-dangerous-things-to-do-while-driving-than-using-your-phone/.

“How Do Passengers Cause Distracted-Driving Crashes?” Mahaney & Pappas, LLP, https://www.mahaneypappaslaw.com/faqs/passengers-are-riskier-driving-distractions-than-texting.cfm#:~:text=Be%2520Aware%2520of%2520Passenger%2520Distractions&text=Passengers%2520can%2520cause%253A,from%2520the%2520task%2520of%2520driving.