Learning to control distractions

When I was still taking driving lessons one of my instructors always had a cast on and gauze covering his entire right arm with limited movement and a finger missing. I asked another one of my instructors if he was open to talking about what happened, especially because it looked like it happened recently, they said yes and that they think everyone taking driving lessons should hear what he has to say. So the next time I had him for class I asked him what happened and he told me how he got in a car crash with someone who was texting and driving. He told me everything, the pain it caused him every day, all the surgeries and skin grafts, and how he was grateful every day he still had his life. He went on to talk about how no one knows how fast your life can change in a split instant just because of one common human slip up. Talking to him really put things into perspective and I think he is one of the bravest people I know, even after that horrible accident he still gets in the car with new drivers and teaches kids how to drive every day because he wants to prevent others from making the same mistake.

Since then, I have been adamant about my distaste for texting and driving or using your phone in general while driving. One thing that continues to catch me up though is my music. Connecting my music to my car has always been my greatest weakness when it comes to driving. No matter how short the distance I always want my music to be playing. Ity seems stupid and unimportant but it relaxes me and helps me honestly focus on the road. Until it doesn’t. If I don’t like the song that’s playing normally my car can just skip it for me with a button on the wheel but sometimes it doesn’t work so I have to do it manually. It seems like not that big of a deal, I just look at my phone for a split second to click a button but sometimes it’s not that simple, and sometimes a split second is all that is needed to change my life. Sometimes my phone is in my bag so then I try to fish around in my bag trying to find it while also focusing on the road and that’s a lot harder. Even if it was as simple as looking away for a split second that’s more than enough time to mess up and cause an accident. After hearing my instructor’s story I know that now more than ever. Being distracted as a driver is never “not that big of a deal” and safety should always be the top priority.

One of the steps I’m taking to fix my problem is to create a queue of songs before I start driving. That way I know what will be on and know I won’t have to look at my phone anymore on my drive. Doing this has honestly helped immensely especially when I want a specific song. Another way I’ve tried to limit this problem is by simply using other people. Most of the time when I’m driving I have someone with me. Now instead of switching the music myself, I’ll ask them to do it for me. Sure sometimes it breaks our conversation but I truly don’t mind when the other outcome of not doing it could be an accident. Finally, the last and most effective method I’ve tried to implement in myself is riding it out. If there’s a song that comes up that I don’t necessarily like and I can’t use any of my other methods to fix it then I simply let the song play. At the end of the day, it’s just a song and I would 100% rather listen to 2 minutes of a bad song than get in an accident.

I believe driving safely is extremely important, My grandmother’s dad and brother passed in a car crash and I have grown up being taught that just because people know how to drive does not mean they know how to drive safely and that I should always be vigilant and cautious. Learning to drive is like gaining a new part of your life and freedom. Its exciting and you want to explore and become your own person. But it is just as important that with this newfound freedom your learn the responsible way to handle it. Not just for your own safety, but also for the safety of everyone that happens to drive with you or around you.