Ignore the Phone Save a Life

Texting while driving should be a crime of murder. The amount of deaths and injuries that happens when one decides to pick up a phone to send a simple text is something that should be considered a crime. Do you remember the incident that happened back in 2016 due to texting while driving. A little recap of the story is about a NJ woman by the name of Alexandra Mansonet who was charged with second-degree vehicular homicide because she chose to look down at her phone. The death of Yuwen Wang, 39 , who was crossing the crosswalk was hit by Mansonet who now is serving 10 years in state prison. How about the incident in NC about the woman who was killed because she decided to pick up her phone and play the song “Happy” by Pharrell? Within seconds she was dead at the age of 32. And the list can go on and on until what? When does it stop?

I will be the first to say I have been in dangerous situations with friends who chose to drive recklessly either by speeding, zig-zagging into other drivers lane, even to the driver switching songs taking his eyes off the roads. But nothing compares when a driver decides to take his/her hand off the wheel to pick up a phone. Yes, I have been in so many scenarios with this happening that I can’t explain the anxiety I felt each time I sat down in the backseat awaiting for my friends to take me from destination to destination. Though the question remains what can we do to stop these accidents from happening?

It’s great when you are of age and decide that you want to own your vehicle and get a license to drive yourself around. Of course there are steps to ensure you know the laws when driving. The ins and outs of driving. Driving school is very beneficial to you because you can properly know what to expect when you’re on the road from knowing the signs, the speed limits, to knowing which way to turn left or right on intersections even how to share roads with motorcyclists and trucks and also letting the pedestrians crossing the street. But the most important thing is learning how wearing a seat belt helps save your life. All of this information is there to protect you. Plus it doesn’t hurt to reread on the safety of the road once in a while. Driver education is very educational and knowledgeable before you decide to grab your license to prevent accidents such as texting and driving and drinking and driving. Did you know that 75 percent of drivers who don’t complete the driver’s education are likely to get a traffic ticket, while 24 percent are more likely to be involved in a fatal or injury accident.

There are ways to reduce the number of deaths while driving. For starters DON’T TEXT AND DRIVE. Picking up your phone is not worth getting yourself or others around you killed. Can you imagine driving doing what you’re supposed to be doing paying attention to the road both hands on the wheel just for you to get into an accident from another driver who decided to pick up their cell phone and send a text message that got the both of you injured. Being in an accident can cause physical, mental and emotional pain to both parties. It’s not worth it, so I am telling you as someone who has been in a car numerous times with drivers who constantly decides to be on their phones while driving. I strongly advise against it. Speeding is something to consider not just for you as a driver but as everyone else around you that it should be noted that speeding is in fact illegal. Actually I would suggest watching a PSA about speeding and distracted driving. Now for our final step to help yourself and others around you. As I mentioned above, driving on your own time with your own vehicle is like a sense of freedom that’s been long anticipated. Here I am going to list a few steps in hopes that if you are a new driver or a current driver that you remember these steps to keep you and others safe.

1. Stay focused

2. Focus around your surroundings

3. Do not depend on other drivers

4. Cut out distractions

I hope you all learned something from this and remember, ignore the phone. Save a life.