Set the Example

The most proactive thing in preventing deaths from car accidents over all things is knowledge. By giving drivers knowledge through driver education courses, the driver will be prepared and informed about the value and overall the importance of being safe on the roads.  Campaigns to educate drivers on the dangers of distracted driving are imperative.  Campaigns could include public service announcements, billboard advertisements, and programs where kids learn to remind their parents. Our culture’s addictions and immediate access to cell phones are a leader in unsafe driving conditions for drivers of all ages. Frequently and unfortunately, adults are violators of the no cell phones while diving rules.

I am grateful enough to have never been in a car accident, but I do see toxic traits that lead to car crashes. Every now and then when I am riding as the passenger with my parents, I will catch myself holding the handle above to the door with my right hand while my left arm is bracing against the center console trying to stabilize myself for whatever may happen.  This is my reaction because their focus is on their phones. I shout something to make my parents look back at the road and realign the car between the lanes they were drifting out of. To assist them in being better drivers, I will gesture to them to give me their phones so that I can type out the text message they were intending to type. However, I am not always in the car with them so I cannot prevent them from texting and driving so I try to reiterate the importance of not being distracted by their phones.

To do my part in my practicing what I preach, I turn off all notifications on my phone and place my phone screen down on the passenger seat so that I will not be tempted to look at any notifications that appear. Usually I will place something over my phone so that it will be less tempting to me since I cannot see the light flicker on. Whenever I open a Snapchat from a friend and see that they are driving, I do not respond until I see their location stop for a few minutes so that I do not promote texting and driving. Whenever my younger sister, who just has her learner’s permit, rides passenger, I lead by setting a good example of staying off your phone directing all focus to go on the roads. 

I think the best way to prevent texting and driving is through education and using the power of knowledge.  By continuing to educate drivers on remaining distraction free through not using cell phones while behind the wheel, the roads will become safer. Safety campaigns such as billboards showing the danger and commercials demonstrating how easily and quickly tragedy can occur can be highly effective. Additionally since teens learn about distracted driving in their training to get a driver’s license, the could become role models and reminders of the correct behavior for their parents.