Look At Your Hand

Look
at your hand. Its
shape, size, texture, and dexterity.
Look
at the way it grips a pencil and expertly formulates essays waiting
to be read. The way it holds onto baskets of homemade muffins,
delivering them to grateful neighbors. The way it faithfully aids you
in your greatest endeavors. In my opinion, the hand is the most
powerful asset the human body possesses.

Unfortunately,
that same hand that has served you in countless good deeds is
unimaginably dangerous. It is the hand that sends an “innocent”
text message at a red light. The hand that reaches to adjust the
radio on a crowded highway. The mastermind behind some 391,000
injuries caused by distracted driving in 2017 alone. The hand that
has no shame in pushing your luck behind the wheel. 

Ironically,
according to a AAA poll, 94 percent of teen drivers acknowledge the
dangers of texting and driving, but 35% admitted to doing it anyway.
This shows that drivers ed is severely lacking the momentum
needed to reduce the number of traffic-related deaths. Understanding
the risks, setting the facts straight, and adopting life-saving
strategies when it comes to taking the wheel is important in not just
keeping the driver safe but also everyone else on the road.

In
2009, I was involved in a car accident on an interstate highway. The
story was a textbook example of the dangers of uneducated driving.
The driver had taken his eyes off the road for a moment to reach for
something in the backseat, which caused his car to drift lanes and
consequently hit several others at a speed of 70 mph. My family’s
car was destroyed, and my mom suffered from several hip and leg
injuries. 

When
I began driving myself, the incident offered valuable insight into
the safety precautions necessary to reduce the number of traffic
deaths. For example, take the time before
you
even start the engine to make sure you are buckled in and that
important items will be easily accessible during the drive, including
GPS tools, wallets, and sunglasses. Make sure you have set the
intended route beforehand and have familiarized yourself with the
directions to avoid having to read them while driving. Adjust any
cooling or heating conditions, take care of grooming needs, and
silence phones beforehand as well. Preparation is key when trying to
keep safe on the road.

These
are all steps that are just as relevant to me when I’m in the
driver’s seat. Just as well, I am not completely helpless as a
passenger either. Whenever I ride in a vehicle with my family or
friends, I can give friendly reminders to the driver to exercise safe
driving practices. I can limit their distractions by keeping their
phone with me, adjusting control buttons for them, and helping them
keep an eye on the road. Responsible driving is not dependent on just
one person. We all need to pull our weight to make the road a safer
place for everyone.

Sources

“Texting
and Driving Accident Statistics – Distracted Driving.”
Edgarsnyder.com,
www.edgarsnyder.com/car-accident/cause-of-accident/cell-phone/cell-phone-statistics.html.

“U
Drive. U Text. U Pay.” NHTSA, 8 Jan. 2020,
www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving.

“100
Distracted Driving Facts & Statistics for 2018.” TeenSafe,
teendriveadmin,
26 Dec. 2018,
https://teensafe.com/100-distracted-driving-facts-statistics-for-2018/