Too Many Distractions

Too Many Distractions

In today’s day and age, driver education is extremely important due to the increase of distracted drivers. Technology is a powerful and helpful tool, but if used in the wrong times, it can be extremely dangerous. Driver education is especially important during the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic has brought up unique driving issues, some being that people cannot eat in restaurants, so they eat in their cars while driving. People want to quickly get home, so they drive fast and recklessly to be in the safety of their house. Teaching the consequences to distracted driving in driver education will help reduce the number of deaths, as people will learn that there are consequences to their actions, both for themselves and for other drivers. 

One step that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths is to strictly enforce the “hands-free” laws. Currently, there are 25 states that have banned hand-held use of cellphones in vehicles. There are 25 more states that should make this law, so drivers will legally have to reduce hand-held distractions. Another step is to truly help students see the consequences of their actions. Sometimes, I included, students read about car wrecks and deaths, but because it doesn’t feel realistic for us, we don’t care as much as we should. Students should be informed 100% on the consequences to texting while driving, drinking and driving, and driving friends before their license allows. Even if they survive an accident, we cannot assure that the other drivers involved will not lose their lives. 

I have personally never been in an accident. I am extremely grateful for my parents, who taught me the importance of safe driving. I am also a strict rule-follower, so I don’t take risks while driving. I have seen friends who have driven more people than they are allowed to with their beginning license. I have been in cars with people who text and drive. I have been in cars with people who barely hold onto the steering wheel. I have a friend who I haven’t personally been in the car with, but they record themselves (hand-held) while driving. All of these experiences have made me uncomfortable, and when I am able to, I respectfully ask them to put their phones away, or to drive a little less recklessly. While it doesn’t always work, I do my best to encourage the drivers to do the right thing, even if they do not always listen.

I make sure that I know the rules of each state I’m driving in. I want to be prepared for any new precautions I need to take, to avoid causing trouble on the road. To me, a car is a privilege. I feel that today, cars have become more about getting somewhere as quickly as possible. By treating my driving differently, I don’t feel the need to put others’ lives at risk because I want to drive faster. When I am on the road and see something that confuses me, I always ask my parents when I have arrived at my destination. Although they are not perfect either, they have driven much longer than I have, and they can help educate me on the events that I see, and whether I was in the right or the wrong. By valuing the lives of other drivers, I can help them become safer drivers by not taking their lives’ away early. Driving is a privilege, and it is our job to make sure we appreciate this privilege, not abuse it.