In the Driver’s Seat

In the Driver’s Seat

When we learn of driving accidents, we typically assume that the person responsible was texting and driving. However, driving accidents include anything that takes your attention away from the roadway such as talking to a fellow passenger, fixing the radio, and eating/drinking. In 2018, 2,841 lives were taken due to distracted driving (National Highway). As our technology involves, the risks of distracted driving only increase. People began to focus on why their phone is not connecting to the radio or trying to find phone charger or anything else that you can think of!

Imagine waiting at home for your loved one to return, but they never do come home. Couple hours later you receive a phone call telling you the worst possible news…your loved one has been killed by a reckless driver. Here we need to understand that driving distracted not only affects you, but others on the roadway was well! We need to think about our action will affect those around us if anything were to suddenly happen. Distracted driving is one of those things we can prevent.

One thing that can be done to reduce driving incidents is through driver education classes! Driver education allows young drivers to drive with an experienced adult who can guide them through scenarios and give them tips on what to watch out for. Many young adults do not take these classes because their high school no longer offers the course, so they drive with their parents to gain knowledge. However, out of my experience, my parents gave me the bare minimum advice while they sat using their phones as I drove. I feel that this may be common for other young adults as well when they first began to drive.

If schools were to require driver education classes, young adults would be gaining advice from someone who was hired to help and guide them in all ways possible! The teacher would be there for any questions for scenarios the student may have. As the student learns, the teacher would have to explain the importance of driving and staying focused. The students would have to be made aware that their driving ability can put others at risk, possibly killing another innocent human.

I believe there are several ways that we can decrease the number of distracted driving. Our vehicles have great technology therefore we should use that to our advantage. For instance, while your car is in park, you should adjust the radio and volume to your liking then once you put the car into gear, the radio would then enter a lock mode. This so-called lock mode would restrict any changes to the volume or radio station until the car is parked or completely stopped. This would ensure that no one would be fiddling with the radio minimizing that distraction!

Next, the biggest distraction of all is our phones. An item that we all struggle with letting sit while we are driving. The biggest temptation of all. We can reduce the risk of phone usage while driving by creating a technology where one enters the car and shuts down the Wi-Fi/ cellular internet that the phone needs. If we can use our technology to create this sort of barrier, distractions by phones will dramatically decrease.

As an 18-year-old, I have been with friends and family members who have drive irresponsible. As soon as I see them distracted, I offer to text or fix the radio or whatever they need done. If they deny the help, I tell them that they need to focus and that I feel uncomfortable with how they are driving. Personally, when I drive, I turn my phone on driving mode where the notifications are muted, and my screen keeps a locked appearance. This way my phone will not let up creating temptations. I have read of too many driving casualties, so I know I do not want to cause one or hopefully never be in one. Whenever a friend or family member is with, I ask them to change the station and handle the volume.

Whenever you think about it, there are ways to prevent distracted driving, but it is up to that individual to want to change. They must be willing to change themselves to protect those around them on the roadway. You must be willing to change yourself! You must be the model for others!

Works Cited

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “Distracted Driving.” NHTSA, www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving#:~:text=Distracted%20driving%20is%20dangerous%2C%20claiming%202%2C841%20lives%20in,involved%2C%20and%20help%20us%20keep%20America%E2%80%99s%20roads%20safe. Accessed 12 Nov. 2020.