The Choice is Yours

The rise of dangerous driving habits, particularly texting while driving, is an ongoing issue. The temptation to multitask has caused a dramatic increase in the possibility of accidents due to distracted driving. Accidents may result in severe injury or even death, all because someone decided to be impatient or lazy. Whether you are going on your phone, eating, drinking, or doing anything that distracts you from the road, you are putting your life, the lives of others, and the emotions of your family and friends at risk. There are many steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths due to driving. These include educating the public on the importance of driver education, raising awareness about the effects of improper driving, and implementing techniques to keep drivers focused on the road.

Driving is a privilege and should be treated as such. When students choose to look at anything but the road, they jeopardize their own lives as well as whoever they are driving with. Not only this, but they also largely impact their family and loved ones if they get in an accident. As a brother of someone who lost their life due to an accident, I can attest that the pain of loss is real. While the accident was not due to distracted driving, the effect is the same. When you partake in distracted driving, you are putting yourself over your family, friends, and the other people on the road. In a way, distracted driving is selfish as you are thinking about what you want, not the possible effects of your actions on you and your loved ones. Also, if you believe that you need to text someone back quickly or they will be mad at you, stop to think for a second. Would they be more mad at you if you did not answer for 10 minutes or if they found out you died or killed someone because of your distracted driving?

I know that it is tempting, but looking at anything but the road while driving is not worth the risk. The few seconds you are not looking at the road could cost you or another driver your lives. Whatever you are tempted to do while driving will still be available when you finish your drive. Instead of being in a rush, take the time before you leave to go on your phone to answer people or put your music playlist on. Personally, I put on Do Not Disturb before I drive. This greatly reduces the temptation to answer text messages or check notifications. In this way, you can greatly reduce the risk of accidents because of distracted driving. Practicing gratitude is another way to keep you present. If people realize that the fact that they own a car is enough, fewer people will be taking advantage of that freedom. Also, being grateful for being alive would make people think twice about their dangerous multitasking.

To raise awareness, social media platforms and schools could have campaigns that show pictures of wrecks due to distracted driving. They could also have testimonies of survivors of accidents due to distracted driving as well as family members of distracted driving victims. If you realize that your life could be ended in an instant, that may be a wake-up call to pay attention to the road. Another way to limit phone usage could be to implement an app that disallows you to text while driving.

On the legal level, I believe that driver education should be a required class to start driving. This would allow for a more in-depth understanding of the rules of the road and precautions that should be taken. The current requirement to drive is that you take an 18-question test to receive a driver’s permit, and a one-time driving test to receive a license. In my opinion, that is not enough to prove your continual understanding of driving. I believe that driving tests should be required to receive a license, and recurring tests should happen to keep it. This would make sure that everyone on the road is capable of driving and knows the rules.

To conclude, reducing dangerous driving habits requires self-discipline as well as a raised public awareness about the possible effects of such driving. A couple of seconds gained from multitasking are not comparable to the possibility of a life lost and loved ones being troubled. Being grateful for every second, implementing techniques to decrease phone usage while driving, and educating drivers about safe habits are just a few ways the roads can be made safer.