Compacts with Teen Drivers and Stricter Penalties could reduce distracted driving

DmvEdu.org

Weston Turner

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevent around nine people die and 1,000 are injured every day because of distracted driving. Drivers ed courses are designed mostly for young drivers and so are very important in helping to install safe driving habits before the students even begin driving. Part of their education should include a compact that students create with specific actions they pledge to take to reduce their own distracted driving. Steps could include things like keeping your phone in the backseat, not answering phone calls while driving, and setting up Do No Disturb settings to disable notifications while driving. This compact could include a requirement to have signatures from the students parents as well.

While there are laws against texting and driving I feel like penalties need to be stricter and enforcement needs to be more consistent. Some states outlaw phone use all-together while others only outlaw texting specifically. I feel a more encompassing law would be more effective at preventing people from picking up their phone at all while they are driving.

I drive a 1997 BMW 328i which I bought with money I earned from buying cars, fixing them up and selling them last summer. It’s an incredibly small car, and it’s black so I kind of visually blend in with the pavement. People driving larger vehicles often do not see me. I have been unintentionally run off the road a few times, usually by SUVs and trucks. Nearly every single time, I noticed the driver was using their phone. Those drivers were willing to put my life in danger because they needed to text someone, or get directions to somewhere.

This has made me very aware of times when I am distracted while driving. I worked hard to earn the money to buy my car and I care about my car and my life enough to realize when I’m distracted I’m risking damage to my car, my life or the life of others. To reduce my chances of driving while distracted I always set up my playlist and set up navigation before I put my car in gear. I also only answer phone calls from family and only with my phone connected to my speakers by bluetooth. In addition, because my car is so small, I have to be very careful not to be in other drivers blind spots and to drive in a way that is predictable and expected by other drivers.

I do not want to become a statistic, so I do my part to keep my eyes on the road and my mind engaged while driving. I hope others will do the same.