Round 2 2020 Drivers ed Essay Contest

Nathaniel DeJardin

July 31^st, 2020

In the Driver’s Seat Essay

Reducing the amount of deaths that result from driving accidents need to start at the core, and that would be in the importance of drivers ed. Strict teachings about driver distractions in drivers ed classes could go a long way. I took my drivers ed back in 2013 and I do not remember them teaching us at all about all the dangers of distracted driving. With how prevalent smart phones and texting is these days, distracted driving is only going to get worse. The sooner kids and other early drivers learn about the risks of distracted driving and the threats it has on people, the sooner they can engrave it in their head. The steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths is a hard question because so much has been done already on the subject, and new ideas are hard to come across these days. I would say that the teachings need to be stronger for the young and new drivers, and they need to know that their 5 seconds of distraction can lead to the deaths of others. Driving is not a right; it should be a privilege that can be open to anyone who will do it responsibly and safely. Thankfully, I have never been involved in a car accident or even really seen one firsthand. I have, however, seen my friend plenty of times make bad decisions like text while drive or even just scroll on their phones while driving. Every time I see this it disgusts me, and I make sure that my voice is heard because I refuse to let my life be put at risk for something as silly as them not focusing on the road and instead on their phones. I have made some changed over the years, like getting a Bluetooth adapter for my car that allows me to skip songs with minimal distraction, just to press a button that I can find through muscle memory so that I can still focus on the road. Concrete steps that I plan to do from now on to limit the distractions are going to be straight forward. I am going to be content with either queuing select songs for a trip, or sticking with shuffle play. No complaining and no trying to change songs or go on my phone while driving. While driving then, I always plan on having my phone in my pocket, or inside of my middle console, so that either way it is out of reach and out of mind. I figure if I no longer keep my phone easily accessible, or within arm’s reach, that will eliminate most phone distractions that I have and will effectively make me a safer driver in the process.