teen driver

The teen drivers of today face a whole new beast when it comes to learning to drive and practicing safe driving. In a fast-paced world with constant interactions and instant gratification, the distraction of having a connection with peers and the outside world can pose a definite threat to the concentration of driving. From text messages and social media posts to weather and news updates, the access to technology that travels with us everywhere we go can lead to bad decisions made while driving. And this is not aided by the need to know right this minute what is going on. As new, unexperienced drivers take the road, it is important that their focus is on just that, the road. But with the relentless buzz of the smart watch, or text that pops up while using the phone for directions, it is easy to become distracted by things that are happening outside the road around us. Despite being told constantly about this danger while operating a “couple ton killing machine” as my dad called it, I succumbed to the perils of texting and driving and was very lucky the outcome wasn’t more severe. While feeling a little peckish, I decided to stop for a snack. I pulled into a fast-food establishment right as my cousin sent me a text detailing the newest salacious gossip about a family member. Instead of easing onto the break as I planned, I eased onto the gas right into the back of the car in front of me. Luckily, there was no damage done to either car or either driver. At first, I tried to laugh it off because the reality of the situation was very heavy. But that’s the point, isn’t it. While it was just a little love tap from my car, if we had been in a different situation, at a different speed, but with a similar distraction, things could have been catastrophic. I left that situation unable to shake that feeling. That I had hit someone in another car with my “couple ton killing machine” because I wanted to know what my cousin had said, and I realized how selfish that was. I could have taken someone’s life all because I wanted to read a text message that seems so trivial now. But that’s not how we think as a society nowadays, especially as a teenager whose life revolves around being social.

The other side of this coin is that it’s not only teens who are guilty of committing distracted driving infractions. The problem is, as a new teenaged driver, lack of experience can come into play here. It’s difficult to teach a new driver how to protect themselves from other drivers who are using devices and not making safe choices. This poses just as much of a threat to a new driver as themselves partaking in distracted driving. They’re just learning to drive and starting out on life’s journey when an adult who clearly knows better makes a decision that can cost the teens life or impact it in such a negative way.

It’s hard to say what can be done about this. There are commercials discouraging distracted driving, as well as laws against driving distracted. Some apps on the phone do have safety mechanisms in place and go into driving mode while they recognize that the operator is in a vehicle, but they can be bypassed with a passcode or face recognition. It also doesn’t limit the barrage of notifications from apps encouraging you to order your next meal, a multitude of junk mail, and the newest music video alert. If you ask most teenagers, I’m willing to bet that they’re able to tell you that distracted driving isn’t safe, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t happening. These adds aren’t just targeted at teen drivers either, as it is known that it’s not just teenagers making these infractions. Sometimes it feels as though a lot of stigmas pinned onto teen drivers, but it is important to remember that they are new and learning, and adults need to keep this in mind when making decisions on the road. A teenager may not be able to account for an adult’s mistake behind the wheel as quickly as a veteran behind the wheel. It may help to make sure to teach defensive driving to our new drivers and not just make them feel like every mistake made on the road is because of them. Ensure to equip them with the tools they need so if they are faced with a split decision on the road, they feel confident in how to handle it.