Retract the Distracted Driving

Throughout our lives, the media has shaped an ideology that once teens get their licenses, they are free and the limits on their adventures are non-existent. With this ideology, we forget the education and seriousness of what we are about to undertake. Our driving education, from the rules of the road to how to approach different situations, is rooted in reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving. We are taught what we should and should not do but mostly from the perspective of extremes. When I was 17 years old, I was in a car accident due to distracted driving. I remember everyone was talking loudly, loud music playing, the amount of traffic and time of day and being confused by my GPS. My GPS was constantly instructing me to switch lanes and on my last lane change I tried to switch lanes fast, and while checking my blind spot, I hit the car in front of me. Everything happened so fast; I remember someone screaming in the back seat, and the sound of metal hitting metal.  My life changed forever after that night. I learned the hard way that distracted driving did not apply just to texting but anything that can take your mind off driving. Now, I take no chances and ensure I am fully focused on the road at all times. No matter the reason, being distracted in any way diverts your attention from the road is puts not only your own life at risk, but everyone else’s as well.  Now I ensure that I can hear everything going on around me, and it is never overpowered, I never look at my phone or allow it to distract me, and I even ask other passengers to lower their volume and if possible help me when I’m in a tough situation. If we all take steps towards normalizing and helping drivers to not be distracted is a step in the right direction. By being reminded to not drive while distracted, we will inherently be more cautious. In addition, we can encourage and advocate for insurance companies to track driving habits utilizing driving apps and reduce rates for good behavior. When money is at stake, drivers will naturally learn safer driving habits and pass on these habits to their students. Utilizing programs that track driving and normalization of conversations regarding distracted driving will allow us to move in the right direction and ensure all drivers can experience safety, happiness, and thrive when they drive.