Distracted Driving

Distracted driving comes in many forms. Texting, eating, putting on makeup, drinking and driving, the list goes on. In my profession I have seen the unfortunate effects of distracted driving. I have been a fire/medic for 15 years. Through that time, I have been a care provider on many car accidents, and they never get any easier. The deaths and injuries witnessed at some of them could have easily been prevented from a distracted driver.

I feel driver education should be a curriculum in school for children from the time they are 14 years old. I would like to see a more intense approach into the laws and rules of the road. By the time the child is eligible to take their learners permit test at 15 ½ they would have 18 months of experience under their belt learning the laws and rules behind driving. They get a minimum of 6 months behind the wheel in real world time with an adult for hands on experience. I think they should have a minimum of 30 hours in a simulator/real driving reviewed by a driving professional to give them tips and tricks to being a safe driver and evaluate their abilities. Once the 30 hours is completed and signed off on, and when the child turns 16, they are eligible to complete their driver test and be awarded the privilege of a license. We must remember driving is a privilege not a right. For those individuals who choose to wait until they are older to achieve a drivers license, the same material and duration can be offered through an adult educational facility with the same parameters

These along with other items I will mention, will give individuals the tools to be more defensive and educated drivers and would hopefully reduce the number of accidents and fatalities that occur on the road. In my profession I feel that law enforcement should be provided the proper tools to combat distracted driving and issue harsher fines and judges should exercise harsher penalties to deter distracted driving, as I stated above driving is a privilege and not a right and offenders of distracted driving should be reminded of such. Stricter penalties States should bring into law to ensure that the tools are there to punish the offenders and States should work to reward individuals who obey the law and are safe drivers.

My profession has shown me the negatives of distracted driving firsthand and I have witnessed the death and destruction it can cause. Individuals lives have been turned upside down in an instant, I have countlessly watched parents of young children mourn their loss and all due to a text that could have waited, a sandwich where a bite could have waited, calling someone for a ride instead of drinking while driving. Every time I render aid to someone who was involved in an accident it makes me think of my own family and pushes me to enforce safe driving tactics and those same safe driving tactics for my crew.

The steps I have taken to ensure safe driving techniques in my personal and professional life is to place my phone on do not disturb, ensure that I am well rested, that I have eaten before my journey, and if I consume any alcohol to always have a designated driver and turn my keys over to a responsible person. My wife also follows these same practices and we explain to our children that no matter what they are doing to ensure proper travel time, be defensive, and no matter what it is it can wait until you arrive safely to your destination.

I take my pledge on distracted driving and its prevention by participating in prom promises where we give hands on demonstrations to the effects of distracted drivers and the severity of the outcomes. I also go into the schools in our coverage area to speak with high school students on the negative effects of distracted driving and the effects it not only has on the parties involved but, the families, friends, and communities. No matter how busy life gets, always take your time and leave the distractions where they belong and that is not in the vehicle were we get no second chances. I have dedicated my life to protecting life and property and anytime I can get the chance to make a positive impact on the youth and even the community in a whole to the dangers of driving, I will always share the message to anyone who would listen.