Put An End To Distracted Driving

Claire Ruocco

July 31, 2021

Put An End To Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is an enormous issue for people of all ages. Most people assume the issue begins when we become eligible to drive as teenagers, but really it starts when we are small children. We spend our whole childhood watching our parents, babysitters, parents of friends, and many more talk on their phone, sing while driving, change the music, read a quick text, talk to kids or friends in the car, and so much more. We are raised thinking that as long as we hide the phone from the police, we will be “safe” and get away with distracted driving. Our position on this is completely wrong, and we, as a progressive and technology-filled society, need to do something about it.

Driving while multitasking is not only putting the driver or passengers in the car at risk, but also every single person around the vehicle. Pedestrians that believe they have been seen and begin to cross the road could be in severe danger if the driver is distracted. Not only are pedestrians at risk, but homeowners in the area, other drivers on the road, and loose or wild animals are also in danger of being hurt or severely injured. Distracted driving may seem harmless at the moment, but once someone has been killed or someone’s property has been damaged, there’s no going back.

It is vital to show students what can be done to prevent distracted driving. Turning the “Do Not Disturb While Driving” feature on your phone on is one way to combat the urge to respond to a text from a friend or family member. This feature also sends an automated text to let the person know that you are driving as an explanation as to why you may not be able to respond at that moment. Another way to ensure that you are prepared to drive safely is to prepare a playlist of songs that you would like to play in the car. The issue arises when a driver attempts to quickly switch the music while driving. Eliminating the need to manually adjust the music will reduce the driver’s urge to change the selection manually. Changing music and taking your attention off the road can be costly — something as simple as switching the music can obliterate someone’s life in an instant. One additional form of distraction can arise when other people in the car cause the driver to lose their focus on the road. This can be one of the hardest forms of distraction to mitigate since we cannot control the behavior of others. However, as the driver, you can be selective regarding who you choose to give rides to. If you know someone has a tendency to be rowdy, you can either set ground rules ahead of time, or you can decide not to allow people who behave in a way that you know to be detrimental to ride in your car. No matter what the source of the distraction, there are always ways to plan ahead so you can prevent yourself from encountering temptation while you drive.

I personally feel I can improve on my safety measures while driving. I like to talk with friends while I am driving, whether over the phone or while they are in the car. I could definitely benefit from focusing more on the road and letting my friends know when I need to be more focused. I also need to learn to not be so fixated on responding to a message that I receive when I am driving. There have been instances where I see a text come through and I become very focused on finding a good time to read and respond to the message. The truth is, the only good time to answer a message is when I am completely parked; not at a stop sign, not at a red light, or while driving in traffic. If absolutely necessary, the best option would be to find a safe spot on the side of the road, pull over and respond once there are no other obstacles in place. However, unless the message is urgent, it can wait.

Driving while under the influence is a huge issue that people do not correspond with distracted driving. When someone is driving drunk, their senses are impaired. Their reaction time is slowed which can be likened to the experience when texting and driving. Those who are driving while intoxicated also have compromised judgment and, as a result, may be more willing to take risks. Many parents are careful to tell their children not to drive drunk, but not everyone talks about the dangers of texting while driving. Both of these distractions can have horrific outcomes.

Distracted driving is an epidemic. The increased use of portable electronics such as smart watches and phones has brought many benefits to our daily lives, but they have also created a massive crisis as well. People of all ages are prioritizing the response to a text message over their own safety as well as that of people around them. This issue will only continue to become more dire if we do not educate people of all ages on the benefits of good driving habits. It is vital to make sure that drivers are aware of the risks that come with distracted driving. A message is not more important than any one person’s life.