Drive Distracted, Drive to Die

We all had to watch the video in Drivers Ed. You know the one where it shows a bunch of kids in a car while the driver is distracted on his phone when suddenly, “BOOM”. All 4 passengers have their lives ripped away to them due to the drivers careless actions and the driver is left to mourn their deaths and hold himself responsible for their deaths.

The unfortunate reality of this situation is that thousands of teens text and drive every day. Nearly 6 million car accidents are reported each year, and a little less than 400,000 of those accidents involve injuries due to distracted driving. Distracted driving is a silent killer and it is spreading across America. These unfortunate statistics stress the importance of driver education. From personal experience I can tell you that not many people pay attention in drivers ed. It’s due to this truth that people disregard the dangers of driving distracted. A survey performed by researchers at the University of Nebraska on driver education showed that teen drivers who took driver education rather than spending 50 hours driving with their parents were involved in fewer crashes. Not only does driver education play an essential role in preparing a new driver for the road test but it also decreases their likelihood of being involved in a car accident.

First off, I have been blessed with never having to experience a serious car accident. But I have friends who have and they have shared their experiences with me. During my research on car related accidents, I was surprised by how many were caused by distracted driving. To me I feel like with the right steps and education, distracted driving seems entirely preventable. While researching, I stumbled across various apps that control notifications while driving and notify family group members when an individual is driving so that they do not text them. Not only this but apps such as Spotify include features such as car view mode to minimize distractions. These apps and features should be utilized to minimize distractions.

Lastly, during my research I considered the possibility of a more difficult road test. America’s current road test has a pass rate of about 75%, while countries such as Great Britain, who has implemented a more difficult road test, has a pass rate of 43%. A more rigorous test would ensure that only drivers who are properly trained will be released onto the roads. This would two fold decrease annual car related accidents and deaths.

Driving is a privilege many young teens cannot wait to experience, but the dangers of a car are widely underestimated, and this leads to unnecessary deaths and accidents. By utilizing technology to reduce distracted driving and implementing stricter road exams, a decrease in car related deaths is sure to occur. So next time you pick up your phone and you’re about to send that text, ask yourself, “Am i ready to kill someone today?”