Decrease Distracted Driving

Memorial weekend 2021, my sister was driving from Pittsburgh, Kansas to Branson, Missouri on vacation. She was returning from her completed sophomore year of Veterinary School. She was driving with her fiancé and his best friend. In front of my sister’s car was her fiancé’s parents’ car. It was early morning, and they were on a two-lane highway in the city of Carl Junction, Missouri. A driver coming West bound, swerved, and was headed straight toward the parent’s car. The parents’ car swerved missing the car heading West, and the car would have hit my sister’s car head-on had she not been paying attention. My sister immediately recognized what happened ahead of her, reacted, and to reduce impact, swerved off the road going 55 MPH, flipped end to end five times and landed upside down in a metal culvert off the highway. My family was devastated when we got the call about her accident. At the time, they couldn’t tell us if anyone in her car was alive or not. We rushed to the hospital they told us the ambulance would be at. Thank God, that my sister and all involved where going to be already with minimal injuries. All the air bag’s deployed and the Hyundai Sonata was crushed on each end.

The gentlemen driving the West bound car was a distracted driver, under the influence of drugs and alcohol. He was charged with several charges and incarcerated. My family and I supported my sister through her healing and physical therapy. My family and sister went to many court hearings following the accident. My sister, her fiancé and his friend all received a rather large settlement from the State of Missouri because this was the driver’s 3^rd charge of driving while under the influence.

Since my sister’s accident, I have been very vocal to my friends and relatives about the effects of driving while distracted. Is it a coincidence that my sister and family were impacted by this accident so we can educate others about decreasing distracted driving? I think so. God allows bad things to happen, so we learn from it and educate others.

For me, distraction comes in many forms. I believe that distracted driving is 100% preventable. Distracted driving isn’t just about texting while driving. It is a serious cause and effect that can kill and harm many people. I have witnessed this firsthand with my sister’s accident that could have been 100% prevented.

My idea to reduce distracted driving is to increase the education the youth receive in schools about distracted driving. There is a huge opportunity to educate the youth and it would be beneficial if the government could find a way to make it work.

Distracted driving includes but not limited to, driving while under the influence of drugs and alcohol, texting while driving, being tired, eating, pets in the car, talking on the phone and listening to music way to loud.

There needs to be an increase education in the public/private/homeschool curriculum revolving around the abuse of drugs and alcohol. Most of the children who attend public/homeschool/private school system, are in class more than they are at home. Children are in school so often during their young life span, it’s providing the perfect opportunity to simply just keep feeding knowledge to them about this issue. I remember being in junior high and even currently in high school, there is simply not enough taught or spoken about this subject of distracted driving.

Teaching children more about the effects and awareness of drugs and alcohol is huge. Think about all areas of life drugs and alcohol have a negative effect. Educate the youth of America about the truth and reality of drugs and alcohol. If we can do this, then there is hoped to decrease anyone getting behind the wheel under the influence.

Texting and driving accidents have really increased since the release of cell phones. Educate the youth again about the impact of this habit. Re-enforce to them the consequences of what will happen if they continue to text and drive. We need to see real life photos of accidents, of death caused by texting and driving, including the loss of life. How does taking a life impact family? This is reality and reality should be shared in this education, so they see the true cause and effect of these actions. We need to teach them about the laws and consequences revolving around killing someone or causing accidents by distracted driving. Utilize truth and harsh reality to ensure they understand the consequences.

In my young thought process, why can’t we have drivers education classes starting as early as children can comprehend what is being taught? Is it ever too early to be taught about drugs or alcohol? Start teaching us in elementary school. As we mature, we need to learn about driving and being responsible behind the wheel. Add classes to the curriculum in Junior High and High School about defensive driving. These classes need to include distracted driving, laws, consequences and all aspects revolving to this subject. It would be important to include the real-life facts of driving while under the influence, texting, eating, having pets, listening to loud music or being tired while driving. Driving is a privilege, and the youth need to be better educated in all the real-life responsibilities that include getting behind the wheel. Are they taught what happens if they kill someone? Do they know the impact on their life and the life they lost?

We as children are to be in school all day, then provide us with educational classes about responsibility and driving as we mature. Add these classes to our curriculum each year we are in school. It can be a progressive approach, which involves more in-depth material the older we get.

Driving is a large portion of our adult life. The more we can devote to helping develop healthy habits of the youth the safer we all will be.