The Importance of Focus in A Distracted World

As an individual who has recently purchased a vehicle following years of careful driving with passenger assistance, I’ve noticed the importance of driver education in educating the young generation to be attentive and always concentrate on the road. It also significantly improves decision-making in complex traffic situations where one could easily become overwhelmed. Not only that, but it enables young drivers to understand potential risks that may unexpectedly present themselves and devise strategies to counteract them. Over time, this education has allowed me to prioritize heightened situational awareness while driving from Point A to Point B. There are multiple approaches to maintain my focus on the road, rather than succumbing to the numerous distractions that can ultimately jeopardize my life.

One way I can stay focused is by enabling the ‘Do Not Disturb’ function on my smartphone. Primarily, it enhances my road safety by mitigating possible distractions stemming from incoming calls, messages, and notifications. Through the automated suppression of these prompts, the DND function aids the driver (me) in maintaining concentration on the highway, thereby reducing the chances of car accidents due to multitasking. From a social perspective, I find it very beneficial as well because it allows me to set expectations with my contacts. I can inform them that responses may be delayed while driving, thereby fostering a stronger interpersonal relationship with close peers, as they are likely to be understanding and patient with the situation. From a personal standpoint, this reduces the urge to check my device while driving, a habit that is extremely common among the younger generation acclimated to recent technological advancements.

Being aware that college life can overwhelm an electrical engineering student like me, especially due to the constant chaos during many populated events that occur throughout the school year, it is essential to minimize any distractions, given the existing pressure to perform well and maintain a good reputation. With the ongoing commotion on the college campus during school hours, it is crucial for me to avoid aggressive driving. Surprisingly, listening to calming music is a great strategy I use to resist temptations to make impulsive decisions on the road. It tends to enhance my concentration on the road and nearby surroundings while recognizing traffic patterns and potential hazards. Inversely, this helps me become a defensive driver, ensuring that I can approach challenging scenarios in a calm and measured manner.

Additionally, many college students tend to make poor decisions and drive under the influence, so maintaining a safe distance from the car in front can prevent me from facing life-threatening accidents. This distance also provides me with the opportunity to react with enough time to maneuver out of the way if something unexpected occurs. This aligns with the idea of avoiding tailgating as well, regardless of how slow the traffic may get. Patience is key to steering clear of issues that could have been avoided.

Fortunately, my experience has been limited to minor accidents, none of which were attributed to negligence on our part. However, there have been a couple of times when I had to be assertive and take a stand on what the driver did wrong in a situation where I was the passenger, and they were driving irresponsibly. I recall a moment when a well-trusted friend stopped at a red stoplight but became impatient and impulsively decided to switch lanes without checking the right rearview mirror. At the same time, a car was approaching that lane and nearly collided with our vehicle. Thankfully, there was no accident, as the other car narrowly avoided going off the road to evade us. Nevertheless, it was unacceptable for my friend to make such an ignorant move that could have resulted in severe injuries for both of us. To prevent such incidents from happening again, I took it upon myself to ensure that I hold both my friends and family responsible whenever there is even a slight possibility that our safety could be compromised.

This sense of accountability should apply to me as well, especially since I am rooted in a curiosity to learn from all the mistakes made. Any opportunity that helps me improve my driving, no matter how minuscule, brings me one step further away from a potential accident. This is how I approach everything in life: I ignore the emotional aspect, look at it from a logical perspective, and provide solutions to my own mistakes. When applying this approach, nine times out of ten, successful driving is achievable, and with a wealth of knowledge, I can offer advice to other new drivers who are eager to learn while also being cautious and aware.