Distracted Driving

Dangerous driving habits such as texting and driving, social media use, facetime, etc. is the cause of 1 out of every 4 car accidents in the United States. There are certain steps that could and should be taken to reduce dangerous driving habits that can lead to death. One way to avoid a fatal situation is to allow plenty of time for yourself to get to your destination. This can eliminate one rushing and checking their phone too often. Another step that should be taken is for one to be aware of their surroundings. This can not be done if one is distracted by their phone. Being aware of surroundings can decrease fatal crashes caused by distracted driving. Keeping a safe distance between the car in front of one can also assist in avoiding dangerous driving habits. When one is distracted by texting or social media they are more likely to ram into the car in front of them or swerve into the next lane of traffic. Teenagers are more likely to drive while distracted. I believe a way to decrease Dangerous and distracted driving habits among young adults is embedding in their heads that “it can wait”. I think a great idea is also social media platforms allowing a do not disturb mode for when the user is behind the wheel. This would eliminate notifications from distracting them and not allowing them to open the app while driving. Another tip to prevent distracted driving is following traffic laws. This includes driving while on the phone. I’ve never been in a car crash but I have seen people that have been driving me participate in dangerous driving habits. It is scary as a passenger to know that because someone can not wait to look at their phone your life could end and it is out of your control. I believe teenagers do not realize the full detrimental effect of distracted driving. Steps I and others can take to eliminate fatal crashes is driving with absolutely no distractions, especially texting and social media. This can save our lives and other’s lives.