Don’t Swerve

Nowadays, many teenagers take the privilege of driving very lightly. There have been various times where I have seen my friends get behind the wheel and have one hand on the steering wheel and the other on their cell phones. It has become a bad habit that many people do even if they are “just checking” thinking that there is no harm in checking your notifications. Although this trend is seen with many teenagers, this does not mean that adults are not doing it. I have personally witnessed this while at a stop sign and the vehicle next to me with their phone in their hand. In just 2019 alone, according to the Texas Department of Transportation, there has been a total of 3,610 deaths related to motor vehicle accidents. In order for us to decrease this number, there needs to be a change in how we educate not just the youth, but also any person who gets behind the wheel about the importance of driving safely. 

One of the most effective ways to bring this sort of change is to create a campaign that is dedicated to all who drive that will inform many drivers about the importance of wearing a seatbelt, not driving under the influence, following speed limits and many more safety measures behind the wheel. This campaign should inform drivers through fact based lectures and demonstrations of scenarios that will allow the driver to reflect on their own driving and understand the severity of driving irresponsable. 

One of the steps that I am taking to be safer in the streets while I drive is to proactively place my phone on “Do Not Disturb” mode every time I get behind the wheel. I do this because I value my own life and the life of my passengers at all times. Any text message can wait until I arrive at my destination. Although I may not be perfect and sometimes forget to place it in do not disturb, I make an effort to remind my friends about not using their cell phone while driving. There have been a few instances where my friend has been driving and been sending a text and begins to swerve. Although these mistakes made me fear for my life, they served as a reminder to put down my phone while driving.