Name: John Anderson
From: Kingsville , Texas
Votes: 0
We hear tragic stories every day. We might even know someone who has
become a victim of a motor vehicle accident. The pain, the sorrow,
the aftermath all sound so terrible. We see the commercials warning
us of the dangers of distracted, disoriented, or aggressive driving.
I was a victim of a distracted driving accident and had to undergo
many weeks of therapy and spinal injections to return to the state I
was before. Yet we do not think twice when checking our phones for
the latest information. Drivers ed teaches us how to operate
these machines that propel not only thousands of pounds of metal, but
human lives as well. Unfortunately, we cannot completely rid our
country of MVA’s, but they can be significantly reduced!
Drivers ed is imperative when allowing someone to become a
licensed driver. Many drivers go through these classes, take their
tests, obtain their licenses, and forget about everything that was
taught to them. Everyone knows that we should stop and a stop sign,
or keep our eyes on the road. However, we have issues implementing
these basic rules. Receiving the latest information on our
smartphones, changing the radio station to a preferred channel,
snaps, selfies, electronic distractions, social distractions, and
many others persist through the years although ad campaigns and
education have been battling against it.
I believe that implementation is the key. However, not every driver
will jump to the idea of driving without any mental stimulation. You
see our brains are wired for mental stimulation, and we crave the
release of dopamine that our neurons send out when we get a new
notification, or listen to our favorite song. The plan is to change
the way you entertain yourself while you travel. This way, you can
stay entertained while staying focused on the road.
New pop songs, text notifications, and social media are probably the
worst distractors of the road. These forms of entertainment last a
very short amount of time and require the driver to take his eyes off
the road multiple times during a commute. Songs could work if they
lasted the duration of a trip. However, most songs today last around
2 to 3 minutes. On a 20 minute commute, one would look down at his or
her phone 6-10 times assuming they don’t cut off a song halfway to
find another. I believe if more people would silence their
notifications of the social media platforms, text alerts, and any
other sort of notification. The entertainment option could be
switched to an interesting audiobook that would allow the driver to
set up a certain chapter to read and keep his mind entertained the
duration of the trip. Most audiobooks can last around 7-12 hours,
depending on the length of the book and do not require the driver to
take his eyes off the road.
This, of course, is only one recommendation to reduce MVA’s due to
distracted drivers. Other causes exist of course and can be reduced
as well by the driver. Intoxicated driving, tiredness, or poor
vehicle maintenance are also causing vehicle accidents. However,
without implementation, there will not be as great of an effect. We
ought to get the word out and implement these new safe driving
habits.
