Was the Text Worth it? The Dangers of Distracted Driving

Was the Text Worth it? The Dangers of Distracted Driving

There is one thing that my driving instructor told my drivers ed class that has stuck with me for the past four years. He said, “whenever I get into a car, I think about how I am operating a machine that has the ability to take the life of myself or others.” People die in car accidents every day. Distracted driving is a key contributor to the number of car accidents that occur every day, especially now that we are in the digital age, with cellphones and other electronics constantly at our fingertips. By preventing distracted driving, a huge threat is taken off of our roads and is no longer taking lives. 

I hate it when people text and drive. When I am a passenger in someone’s car, I am entrusting them to get me to our destination safely, and when they pick up the phone to change the song or to read a message I feel as if they are disregarding my life as well as theirs. I convinced my family to come up with a set of rules regarding distracted driving to make sure my sister, parents, or myself would never put any of our lives at risk. For example, we help one another to avoid talking on the phone while driving by ending phone calls if the person on the other end is behind the wheel. This idea may seem like common sense, but it is possible that some simple rule may have saved the life of someone in my family. 

The most effective way to prevent distracted driving is not just through new technology, but through education. Young drivers are often thought of as reckless and dangerous. While it is true that young drivers are also inexperienced drivers, if they are properly trained, they can be some of the safest drivers on the road. The rigor of the driving test is meant to enforce safe driving habits for all newly licensed drivers. In fact, many experienced drivers would likely fail the drivers ed driving test if they drove as they normally do. One of the best ways to train drivers to drive safely is by using others as examples. Many of the videos shown in drivers ed classes today depict horrific car accidents and their results, encourage new drivers to be aware of the power they hold when they are operating a vehicle. The power to possibly take a life. 

Our society moves at a fast pace. We have high speed internet, trains and planes that go hundreds of miles an hour, and everyone seems to be on the go. There are dozens of reasons why someone may take their eyes and their attention off of the road, but none of them are worth risking a life for. In the end we need to realize that the most important thing we can do while driving is to drive safely, and to get to our destination alive.