The Cost of Distraction

The Cost of Distraction: A Call for Change in Teen Driving Safety

On July 18, 2020, my family’s life changed forever. My brother was in the backseat of a brand-new car driven by his 16-year-old friends. They were excited, distracted, and consumed by the thrill of their newfound freedom behind the wheel. But that thrill turned deadly when, at a speed of 120 miles per hour, the driver lost control of the car and struck a culvert. The force of the impact was so extreme that the vehicle tore in half between the driver and backseat, an almost perfect divide.

My brother was pinned beneath the rear of the car, his body folded under twisted metal. It took over 45 minutes for emergency responders to free him. When our mother arrived at the scene, she feared the worst—that her child had already died. He was airlifted to the children’s hospital, where doctors fought to save his life. What followed were countless surgeries, an unending series of medical interventions, and the placement of metal throughout his body. He had to learn how to walk again. Do things he was already independent with, a relearning. His physical form was forever changed. So was his future.

This tragedy was not simply an accident. It was a preventable outcome of a dangerous culture that gives responsibility to teenagers before they are fully ready and places them in a digital environment that constantly demands their attention. Our society has created a pressure cooker of instant responses, constant notifications, and an unspoken rule that silence equals disinterest. As a result, teenage drivers—already inexperienced—are further distracted by a world that values speed over safety, urgency over understanding.

The Myth of “Standard” Driver Education

Standard driver education is no longer enough. Learning how to parallel park and obey traffic signs does not adequately prepare teenagers for the emotional maturity and split-second decision-making required on the road. We trust teenagers with a one-ton piece of machinery that can easily become a weapon—with little more than a written test and a few supervised drives. This system is not working. It wasn’t enough to save my brother the life he has now. It won’t be enough to save the next teen.

Technology as Part of the Solution

One of the most dangerous distractions for any driver—especially teens—is the cell phone. Texts, social media notifications, music apps, and GPS prompts demand constant attention. But what if we rethought how phones work in vehicles altogether?

We already have technology capable of disabling phones when a vehicle is in motion. Apps like Apple’s “Do Not Disturb While Driving” exist but are often optional. Why are they optional? Shouldn’t it be mandatory for drivers under 18 to have such features automatically enabled with no ability to override them? We don’t let 16-year-olds buy alcohol or vote, yet we allow them to decide whether they want to be distracted while driving.

Phones should automatically switch to a driving mode once the car is in motion—blocking incoming notifications and disabling access to apps unless connected to a secure, hands-free system. Parents should have control over these settings, and car manufacturers should partner with tech companies to make this the standard, not the exception.

Building a New Culture of Communication

It’s not just about the phone—it’s about the pressure that comes with it. We must begin shifting our cultural mindset about communication. There is no emergency so urgent that it justifies responding while driving. We must teach our teenagers that waiting to reply is not rude, it’s responsible. Adults must model this behavior too. Every time a parent texts their child while knowing they’re driving, they reinforce the wrong lesson: that instant communication is more important than safety.

Better Education and Stronger Laws

Driver education should also include real-world scenarios—simulators that show the consequences of high speeds, distracted driving, and reckless behavior. Survivor testimonies like my brother’s should be part of the curriculum. Stories of trauma and loss can make the dangers real in a way textbooks cannot.

In addition, we need stricter graduated licensing laws. Teen drivers should face more restrictions during the first year of licensure—limits on how many passengers they can carry, curfews, and mandatory parental oversight.

Conclusion

My brother survived, but he lives with the cost every day. A body forever changed. Dreams interrupted. Pain that will likely never fully go away. All because a group of teens—unprepared and distracted—were handed keys to adulthood too soon.

We owe it to our children to demand more. Safer technology. Stronger education. A cultural shift toward patience and responsibility. Because one more family shouldn’t have to go through what mine did. And one more teenage life shouldn’t be left broken on the side of the road.