Take the Course, Don’t take the Riske

An average of 34,000 people have died each year from motor vehicle accidents. Unfortunately, this is more than the total number of American soldiers who have died from war in Iraq and Afghanistan combined. As previously noted, driving is more life-threatening for our world than going to war. Newer drivers seem to be uneducated on proper safety and rules when operating a vehicle. A primary reason for the creation of the driver’s education course is to educate and offer knowledge of the rules of the road. Thus why it is mandatory to take before proceeding with your driver’s license.

The importance of driver education is to provide foundational skills and experience one will need to pass a behind the wheel test and learn how to be a safe driver. In addition, it gives an understanding of traffic laws, and vehicle operation. Reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving requires students to learn first-hand the effects of being irresponsible and lacking concentration, whether that be from speeding, driving under the influence, or being on the phone. In order to reduce the number of deaths related to driving, implementation of the risk faced not understanding the rules of the road is imperative. According to a car insurance company, “you can prevent accidents by developing the right attitude about driving, Get as much supervised practice driving as possible, ALWAYS wear your safety belt, know that underage drinking and drug use is illegal, limit your passengers, limit your night driving, keep it slow and safe for starters, train for poor weather conditions, cellphones are only permitted when there is an emergency, and lastly, drive a safe vehicle.”

You may know that texting and driving is bad; however, do you understand just how bad it really is? In 2018, around 400,000 people were injured in wrecks caused by distracted driving.  Drivers aged 16 to 24 are most likely to use a handheld device while driving. With so many less experienced drivers on the road using highly distracting devices, the potential for crashes—and thus injuries and fatalities—is incredibly high. I was recently riding with my cousin who was driving down a busy road near our high school. On three separate occasions, he glanced at his phone and responded to a text message. Knowing that he is a new driver, I asked him to refrain from texting and driving, or to allow me to respond for him. Finally, a text came through, a he looked down to respond, not noticing the brake lights ahead. I had to yell for him to stop! He slammed on his brakes and we almost rear ended the car in front of us. To be fully transparent, prior to this incident, there have been occasions where I have looked at text messages or even responded to them. However, after this situation with my cousin, which really scared me, I no longer look at my phone while driving.

Of course, lethal consequences or the chance of injuring someone are the biggest risk factors with texting and driving, but there are other risks as well. Consider these points before you pick up your phone when you’re behind the wheel.

1. You are probably breaking the law:  Texting and driving is illegal in every state except Montana, so you could get a ticket—and a fine.

2. Your insurance could go up: If you get a ticket for distracted driving, count on your insurance rates skyrocketing.

3. You could damage your car: Even if you don’t hurt someone if you cause a crash while texting, you could severely damage your car. A totaled vehicle won’t be cheap to repair or replace.

4. You could get sued: According to the law, you could be sued for negligence if you caused a car wreck while texting and driving. 

If you are not sure how often you pick up your phone when you’re in the driver’s seat, try a driver safety app. It logs every time you pick up your phone in the car and gives you (or your teen driver) an important wake-up call. 

You can also pause notifications on your phone when driving:

• On an iPhone, go to Settings and then Focus. Tap the plus sign in the upper-right corner. Select Driving and follow the on-screen prompts to avoid distracting pings and notifications when traveling. 

• On an Android phone, go to Settings, then Google. Tap Personal Safety and toggle on the option to silence notifications while driving.

Texting and driving is risky at best and lethal at worst. I have started to remind myself to “arrive alive” any time I think about using my phone in the car. Maybe that mantra will help someone else too.