In the Driver’s Seat

As being in the driver’s seat brings a great feeling of accomplishment and control, following after are the risks and possibilities of chaos on the road. Driving comes with a lot of responsibility, as you are not only in control of your safety but others on the road and sidewalks as well. As more and more drivers are introduced to the road, the rates of car crashes, including fatalities, have significantly increased. While being in the driver’s seat, it is important to be knowledgeable about driving rules and signs, pay attention to all surroundings, and limit distractions as anything can change in a split of a second. Throughout this paper, I will explain the importance of driver’s training, various driving distractions, and how to limit them with the involvement of states and technology companies.

Driver’s education is the setting stone for teens who are beginning their driving experience. It introduces the guidelines, laws, safety, and past experiences to encourage safe driving. As I am someone who did not take driver’s training, due to the cost, I wish I did as when my driving journey started. Of course, I knew the basics but wished to have known all signs that may not be common, proper speed and risks when involving sharp turns, and past experiences and advice that increases my safety on the road. This is why driver’s training is highly recommended for those desiring to be on the road. Driver’s training provides extensive details on making sure to be aware of all surroundings, paying attention to signs as they are important to what’s ahead and the proper speed limit, practicing being a safe driver, and how to react to uncontrollable circumstances involving weather and car problems. Having this knowledge increases safety immediately as it provides the proper knowledge to be in control of oneself on the road to get to each destination as safely as possible.

As driving may not seem complex, a driver’s full attention must be committed solely to driving physically, mentally, and visually. No matter the time, any focus taken away from the road increases the risk of a near-to-fatal accident. Sometimes these detractions go unacknowledged as they feel and become natural as we do them that we do not realize it is wrong. Understanding driving distractions and how they occur can minimize the occurrence of these distractions and reduce the number of accidents. Driving distractions fall into three main categories: visual, manual, and cognitive. Visual distractions are any actions that require a driver to remove their eyes from the road by any means. Driving requires direct focus, visually, as every second on the road counts as anything is bound to happen. This is why the causes of visual distraction are important to comprehend as our sight is crucial while on the road. Visual distractions can occur inside and outside the vehicle. Visual distractions can vary from taking a quick look at a billboard, looking at passengers, and engaging with our phones. Manual distractions include actions that require the removal of one or both hands from the steering wheel. Referencing back to the importance of driver’s training, instructors emphasize always keeping both hands on the wheel as the removal of just one immediately affects a driver’s reaction time. Even though a driver’s sight may not be compromised, the ability to react to sudden changes on the road has decreased the second a hand is removed. Even if you are just reaching for a drink or maybe something that fell down the side of your seat, you are risking the chances of an accident since the ability to react immediately has been taken away. Cognitive distractions include anything that requires thinking about something other than driving while on the road. As we are driving and our mind drifts to something else, we risk the ability of an accident as we cannot solely focus on just driving anymore. Trying to be focused or give attention to other things while driving is just as threatening as drunk driving as the ability to effectively make driving decisions is clouded by another occurring thought. These distractions individually can alter a driver’s ability to dedicate their undivided attention to the road and road only, so taking the initiative to limit these distractions as one before they become a habit or a combination of any three is crucial.

When it comes to practicing safe driving and limiting any distractions that come in between the road, there are many solutions states and technology companies implemented to assist us in fighting those distraction urges. As these solutions only impact a few distractions they are a start to reduce these distractions causing a direct decrease in car accidents. Many states have passed a hand-held ban that allows law enforcement to pull drivers interacting with their phones over. This ban can make drivers think before they text or scroll while on the road as they are now susceptible to being pulled over for doing so. Technology companies have created advanced tools within our phones and cars that prohibit any incoming notifications while on the road. These advances can activate automatically making practicing safe driving even easier with lessening the responsibility of tuning these tools on and off. Not only did technology companies implement ways to decrease texting while driving, which includes all distractions, but car companies’ technology has features that can even intervene in potential car accidents. These features can detect the removal of a driver’s hands off the steering wheel, the drifting off in another lane, and warnings of the use of brakes. When distractions occur any of these risks can happen leading to car accidents so these implementations impact the decrease of accidents.

To emphasize the importance of safe driving and the connection it has with decreasing car accidents, I first discussed why driver’s training is crucial to future drivers, the three types of distractions and how they occur, and lastly implemented solutions from states and technology companies.