One Text Too Many: The Safer Journey To Driving

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2023, distracted driving claimed the lives of 3,275 individuals. This startling fact not only affects those who have lost their loved ones but also our society as a whole, as more distractions become available to drivers. Simply put, distracted driving is anything that distracts the driver from driving safely. This could be texting, talking on the phone, with others in the car, or interacting with the vehicle’s navigation system while driving, etc. Although these actions seem innocent, they can be the cause of a fatal car accident. Distracted driving has personally affected me by making me anxious when driving with others. To help raise awareness and promote safe driving, we should create incentive-based programs that reward safe driving and use social media campaigns to reach young drivers on a larger scale.

There is a sense of negligence from younger drivers, which I believe is tied to the newfound freedom of driving, which makes young drivers act carelessly. Driver’s education courses play a huge role in giving young drivers the necessary information about the risks that come with driving. These educational courses, which teach rules of the road, identifying road signs, and defensive driving skills, can encourage good habits and counter the ego that new drivers have. As a college freshman, I’ve seen it all when it comes to distracted driving. From texting while driving to doing makeup while driving. Specifically, I remember a time I got into my friend’s vehicle, she was texting while driving, which made me extremely uncomfortable as the car was beginning to shift into other lanes due to her being distracted. When I addressed my concerns, offering to text for her, she dismissed my concern, saying that it was okay and that she just needed to send a message quickly. This was not the last time I experienced something like it; it illuminated the continuous pattern I observed in young drivers, specifically those ages 15-21. The pattern is that these young drivers don’t think they are distracted drivers. They say things like “Just this one time” and “I swear I won’t do it again.” The biggest challenge drivers face is the distractions of phones, passengers, and a lack of experience, which can lead to poor decision-making in high-risk scenarios. These experiences have created a genuine fear when riding with others, as I’m putting my safety in their hands when getting into a car with them. I can’t help but feel helpless and anxious while driving to any destination, worried about the dangers that could occur on the road. As a young driver, this has made me extremely intentional about my safety and the safety of my passengers while driving. I now make efforts to limit distractions, putting my phone on do-not-disturb mode while driving, and setting up my navigation system before leaving my location. When I’m not driving, as I mentioned before, I make my best efforts to limit the distractions for the individual driving, like answering calls for them, texting for them, and setting up the navigation system while they drive. In making small efforts to drive safely, I can motivate those around me to drive safely as well.

With the introduction of incentive-based programs, we can motivate young drivers to drive safely by rewarding them when they reach a “safe driving milestone”. An incentive-based program is a program where participants are rewarded when certain tasks are completed successfully. Encouraging drivers to download apps that track phone usage while driving can be used to verify their safe driving milestones. For example, young drivers who complete 1 year without acquiring any tickets, warnings, and no phone use can receive a discounted insurance rate. Other incentives could be scholarship eligibility for drivers and gift cards for 6 months of safe driving. I believe that these incentives will motivate drivers to adopt safe driving habits, knowing their actions will ultimately lead to a reward, encouraging safe driving and responsibility within communities around the world. This creates a safe environment for all drivers and informs individuals of the dangers of distracted driving. These programs can be implemented in the local community by partnering with schools (colleges and universities included) to inform drivers of the dangers of distracted driving. Schools can also invite guest speakers, offer safe driving workshops, and work together with parents to educate drivers outside of the classroom. The use of local law enforcement and first responders can help articulate the medical risks that are associated with accidents, while local businesses can help by sponsoring the gift cards that are given to safe drivers.

Social media is a powerful tool that can be used to bring awareness to the dangers of distracted driving. Using social media to raise awareness of this topic will allow for a greater impact, as many young drivers interact with social media daily. We see the power of social media to bring awareness to many serious topics like mental health, suicide prevention, and domestic abuse. Many hashtags, and even challenges like the ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) ice bucket challenge, have been created to raise awareness of this condition and have resulted in a greater understanding of what this disorder is, and have helped with funding for research of this disorder. In the same way, creating a hashtag like “ #safedriving” where drivers post pictures of themselves putting their phones away or silencing their devices can encourage others to do the same. Sharing real-life testimonials with this hashtag can show the seriousness of this issue, as well as creating reels or TikTok videos with this hashtag for a light-hearted message. Encouraging individuals through engaging posts and stories will develop an awareness across social media platforms. In seeing their friends participating in spreading the word about distracted driving, others will be more willing to actively participate, further enhancing awareness.

Until we spring into action and create change, distracted driving will continue to take the lives of many individuals. Distracted driving has affected my relationship with driving, which others may resonate with as well. The fear of distracted drivers should not cause anxious feelings, which is why it is important to encourage safe driving among young drivers and use incentive-based programs and social media to do so. Driving is a necessity for many, so let’s make the effort to keep our roads safe and encourage road safety education among the youth of tomorrow!