No Distraction is as Important as Someone’s Life When Driving

Tens of thousands of Americans die each year as a result of distracted driving. Is a text message really more important than a life? People are losing loved ones to something easily preventable. No one wants to be the cause of someone dying, and when someone practices in distracted driving, they are taking a higher chance at this. Many accidents also occur from driving under the influence, driving when tired, and just focusing on other things than the road. People need to focus only on the road when driving. It is important to understand the seriousness of driving safely without distractions so that the number of deaths caused by car accidents can be heavily restricted. The best way to be safer on the road is to take driver education because it teaches the effects of driving when distracted and the importance of being safe when behind the wheel.

Many families go through the devastating experience of losing a loved one due to a distracted driving accident. My dad lost his mom when she was 47 years old to someone being asleep when they were driving. This other person hit my grandma head-on and killed her. The person who killed her has to live with themselves for killing someone. It also changes the lives of the loved ones whose family member died. My dad now had to live his life without the person he loved the most. This tragedy is something no person should have to go through, especially when it is easily preventable. This could’ve been prevented if the other driver was responsible and decided to not drive due to them being tired. Don’t be on the road if you are tired because that puts the lives of others in danger. Always make sure to be focused on driving because being the cause of a death from driving when distracted is a terrible thing.

Driver’s education is something my parents made my brothers and I go through before we could roam the open road. It is critical that young people getting ready to drive use this course so that they become knowledgeable of the large responsibility behind the wheel. Driver’s education strongly shows the negative effects of distracted driving and makes people realize how serious it is. With the multiple quizzes and tests on how to drive safely, the students taking the course become extremely knowledgeable and know how to act when they get on the road. This knowledge and understanding of safe driving prevents many accidents from happening each year.

Many steps can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving. The most important step is to immediately put your phone out of sight when getting in the car. This diminishes the urge to check the phone when there is a notification. Always make sure to be wide awake before getting behind the wheel. My grandma died because someone decided to drive when they were sleepy. A simple fix to this is to only drive when you are fully awake and focused. Another thing to do is keep focus directly on the road and don’t take your eyes off of it. With complete focus on the road, the chance of other distractions decreases drastically.

I have seen my older brother check his phone to change his music when he drives. This may seem like a minor thing, but even a split second can change someone’s life. It is important to never take your eyes off of the road, even to change the song. Also, many people feel like they need to answer texts when they drive. No text is as important as the lives that could be threatened when someone is distracted and driving. I have never experienced a car accident caused by distracted driving but I know they happen a lot, including to my grandma. It is truly sad to lose a loved one to something that could be easily prevented.

When I am driving, I put the playlist on that I want before I start driving and then set my phone down until I get to where I’m going. Putting the phone away makes me not feel the urge to be on it when I get a notification. This is something everyone should do to reduce the hesitation of being on electronics when driving. I was fortunate to take driver’s education at a young age. With this, I have become extremely knowledgeable on the importance of driving without distractions. Driver’s education is the best thing a person can use to truly be a safer driver on the road. No distraction is as important as someone’s life and people need to focus only on the road when driving.