Heaven Can Wait project

Distracted driving has been a problem since cars have been invented. Since mobile phones were created the number of accidents caused by distracted driving has increased significantly. In 2023 the National Safety Council reported 1.6 million crashes caused by drivers using their mobile devices. The CDC states around 3000 people die in crashes that involve distracted driving a year. Ways to describe distracted driving may include, but are not limited to, cell phone usage, eating, changing radio, preoccupied thoughts, lack of sleep, and multiple passengers. To make the roads safer, we need to attack distracted driving specifically mobile device usage. Ways that will lower mobile device usage while driving are by using the factor of fear like the Montana Meth Project did in the mid-2000s. We should also give people incentives to not use their phones while driving by lowering insurance rates based on phone usage while driving. We should also bring driving education courses that show the dangers of phone usage while driving like we already have for drugs such as alcohol, marijuana, and vaping.

The Montana Meth Project used graphic billboards, videos, and other advertising avenues to show the dangers of methamphetamine use. This was shown to have a great effect on teenagers in Montana as it lowered teenage methamphetamine use by 45 percent while it stayed relatively the same in other states. Other states have adopted programs such as this that have been shown to work. So if we use the same tactics of the Montana Meth project to show the dangers of distracted driving we will get a lower amount of people driving while using mobile devices. We could use billboards, and advertisements on social media such as YouTube and TikTok because there is an abundant amount of teenagers that utilize these platforms. They will see the graphic videos that show what may happen while driving using your device which will lower their chance of wanting to use their devices while driving.

Ways we can incentivize drivers to not use mobile devices while driving is by lowering insurance rates based on phone usage while driving. This is how my insurance runs their incentive program which helps me and my family stay off our devices while driving. Also, many of my friends have the same type of incentive programs with their insurance companies which lowers their cell phone usage while driving significantly. A study by the National Library of Medicine shows that people with insurance incentives were on their phones 15-21% less than people without that incentive. This is proof that it works and we can lower accidents by distracted driving even more if it was a widespread policy for insurance companies to provide incentives such as lower rates to those who do not use their devices while driving.

In my school, we have a graduation requirement to do courses on the dangers of drug use. If we require schools to give their kids courses on the dangers of distracted driving and make it a graduation requirement this will lower the amount of teens utilizing their phones while driving. When I learned the dangers of drug use through these courses through school, I knew that I never wanted to touch a drug in my life. When my dad was in school they had an assembly named the Desperado that went over drug and alcohol use as well as depression and other issues that teens may encounter. Much like the Montana Meth Project, it was very impactful in its messages. Most conversations over the next couple of weeks had to do with the topics discussed at the assembly says my dad. I am unable to find statistics at this time, but I am sure they are along the statics proven by the Montana Meth Project and the just say no campaigns.

Distractive driving is a massive problem causing the deaths of thousands a year. It’s all about getting a message out at the ages that people are learning to drive. This message should be graphic and straight to the point like the Montana Meth Project showing the undeniable fact that distracted driving causes horrendous accidents that affect many others, including those not directly involved in the accident. This should target teenagers by utilizing the avenues that are widely used, for example, social media, streaming services, and in school. We shouldn’t wait until a traffic violation or serious accident occurs to insist on an increase in education on distracted driving. By attacking the issue of distracted driving we can guarantee safer roads for this and the future generations.