Outlive Deadly Distractions

Outlive the Deadly Distractions

Screeching brakes, last resort maneuvering, bammm! That’s how my driver education teacher describes the potential consequences of drunk driving as he showed us videos of accidents caused by drunk driving. I was scared and I silently swore that I’ll never drive drunk. Yet, as he and thousands of teachers taught similar units every year, imploring students to drive safely and drive sober, highway fatalities still steal more Americans’ lives every year than the entire Korean war combined. Something had to change. From improving driver education to changing the culture around driving, we could save tens of thousands of lives each year.

Let’s begin with the importance of driver education in reducing driving related deaths. Driver education courses are one of the most important influences on a future driver. Lessons taught there at a young age could be engraved into the young minds for centuries to come. It’s imperative that safe driving is not only taught properly, but repeatedly emphasized to change the culture. People often believe that they’re an exception to safe driving rules by thinking that they are just better than everyone else. They may be under the false illusion that they could handle this supposedly little amount of beer, or an expert at multitasking. They may be right once, twice, or even a thousand times. However, what about the 1001th time? It only takes one accident to change someone’s life. I believe this deep rooted problem requires more than a line of text on the whiteboard can change. This requires a monountal social push to change the culture around distracted driving, in a similar fashion to a successful campaign against a deadlier common enemy: smoking.

We should begin with a cultural campaign against distracted driving. In school hallways, cafeterias, and classrooms, there should be slogans of “stay distraction free driving” next to that of “stay drug free.” We, as a society, should take the initiative to create a distraction free driving month. Whether it be handing out stickers, putting up posters, or giving out pins. We must get the message out there. That way, the kids who text emojis while driving 65 are no longer seen as cool, but rather as a danger to self and society. Awareness is extremely important, and change the culture we must!

Additionally, there should be rewards for safe driving. Maybe a record free year can earn one small reduced insurance rate or just a cool shirt, a little reward can go a long way in encouraging safer driving behaviors. According to Economist Bruno Frey, “When people are given an award, in general they are likely to work better … and therefore are contributing really to the social good”(NPR.org). Us humans are naturally stimulated by rewards, and such behaviorism can be utilized to encourage safe behavior. Perhaps a simple system of “safe driving” points for awards can encourage substantial positive social behavioral changes. Whatever the award might be, change it might bring.

Thankfully, since I listened to my driver education teacher’s repeated nagging, I hadn’t been involved with an accident yet. I took to heart his important lessons on safe driving. However, I had unfortunately witnessed plenty of distracted driving around me. I frequently saw friends blast speakers to full volume as a habit, pull out their phones to reply to text messages as an instinct, or answer calls while driving as a necessity. Every time I saw such dangerous actions, I would always ask, “can that wait?” The truth is that it can always wait every single time. That split second may not be much, however, it is enough to get a friend of mine into close calls. This is especially true on highways and country roads, where just driving by the average speed limit of 55 mph, the car will travel about 80.67 feet in just a second. With that kinds of speed, a short text message is all it takes for the eyes to wander off the road, the hands off the steering wheel, and boom something bad can happen.

To initiate a social change, I start with changing myself. I always ensure that my phone is on silent and in the glove compartment before I start the engine. I always make sure to tell my friends that I won’t be drinking — if I had to drive — before I even step through the doors of parties. I always use common sense and I always drive safely. Sometimes I may feel tired or drowsy afterward, and I always remember the rule of “better safe than sorry” and take a nap. I also instinctively act like a defensive driver, making sure to follow all rules and regulations. One safe driver may not be much, however, that’s one more safe driver that will potentially make the roads a lot safer.

I hope that through my small actions and essays I have inspired another driver to join the cause. I hope that through changing the culture around reckless driving, and installing rewards for safe behavior, we can inspire more people to follow suit. I hope our roads will be safer through our combined efforts. I sincerely thank you for taking the time to read this essay and considering it! Stay safe!

Vedantam, Shankar, et al. “Better than Cash: How Awards Can Shape Our Behavior.” NPR, NPR, 25 Feb. 2019, www.npr.org/2019/02/25/697641324/better-than-cash-how-awards-can-shape-our-behavior.