
Name: John Chijioke Iluno
From: Fort Wayne, IN
Votes: 0
The Innocuous Outcome of Moving your Face 180 Degrees While Driving
The Innocuous Outcome of Moving your Face 180 Degrees While Driving
Being a passenger for years, I never knew I could be the cause of an accident. However, a near accident experience opened my eyes to the dangers of distracted driving. As of 2018, I did not own a car. Thus, I had to rely on my friends to drive me around. My friends, on the other hand, enjoyed driving me around because of the fun conversations we had. While driving, we would discuss philosophical topics, recent technological advancements, or the scores of an upcoming soccer match. Although these skills are highly useful in getting by in society, it can be highly dangerous when a driving car is involved.
On the day it all happened, my friend and I were trying to predict the scores of an upcoming soccer match. We had different opinions and were adamant about them. As to be expected, the argument got intense and my friend, who was driving, lost control of the wheels when he tried to make eye contact. There were hundreds of ways that action could have gone wrong. For instance, we could have collided with a parked car near the sidewalk. However, we only swirled out of the road and abruptly parked on the sidewalk. We were both frightened by this incident and kept quiet for the rest of the ride home. This near accident experience made me understand the tragic possibilities of accidents caused by distracted driving.
According to NHTSA, as of the year 2018, 2,841 lives were lost from motor vehicle accidents caused by distracted driving. Out of the 2,841 lives lost, 61 percent were drivers, 21 percent were passengers, 14 percent were innocent pedestrians and 3 percent were bicyclists. This data is alarming because it shows the innocuous outcome of looking away for a split second while driving. According to the CDC, there are three types of distracted driving habits: visual, manual, and cognitive. Although there are recent developments in self-driving cars, these vehicles are not yet widely used by the public. Thus, the most practical solution would be creating public awareness of the dangers of distracted driving. Social media, for instance, can be a useful tool in creating this public awareness. By starting hashtag trends, we can educate people (especially teenagers) on the dangers of distracted driving. Furthermore, drivers should be taught tips on how to remain visually, manually, and cognitively focused while driving. Therefore, a drivers ed program will be a useful approach for society to reduce deaths caused by distracted driving.
I plan to get my driver’s license next month. Knowing that I could have almost added a plus one to the 2018 data due to a near accident experience, I pledge that I will avoid engaging in any form of distraction while driving. I pledge that I will get educated about tips for safe driving. I, also, pledge that I will educate my friends and engage in activities that will promote awareness of the dangers of distracted driving.
Resources
-
https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving
-
https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/Distracted_Driving/index.html