Need to Change

The National Traffic Highway Safety Administration says over 3,000 people were killed in distracted driving accidents in 2017. According to one study, distracted driving caused nearly 15,000 car accidents and at least 66 deaths in Pennsylvania alone in 2015. Along with these statistics, distracted driving killed approximately 263 teenagers (ages 15 to 19), and in 2016, ten percent of all teen car crash fatalities occurred. These numbers are staggering and frightening as Technology becomes more involved in our everyday lives, especially in teenagers like myself. The best way to combat this pandemic through my age group is to develop habits while driving and look for other resources to ensure safety, which adds to a safe driving experience.

Texting while driving is risky because it can take your focus away from the road. Many argue that texting only takes your attention away from the road for a few seconds, but they don’t realize that something unforeseen could happen in those few seconds. Furthermore, if you go at fast speeds, you can cover considerable distances in a matter of seconds. You could use those few seconds on your phone to press the brakes or swerve out of the way of a fast-approaching item. If you’re looking at your phone, you’re wasting time that could have been spent avoiding an accident. The most efficient way to deter texting and driving is to develop a habit that keeps your eyes and hands on the road. This may seem like a tough assignment for many people who rely so heavily on their phones, but it’s easier than you think. If you think about it, you do several things automatically when driving a car that you don’t even consider, such as fastening your seatbelt or locking your car after parking it. The key is to make putting your phone away part of your routine. In this manner, you are not breaking the habit of texting and driving as you are forming new habits that prevent you from using your phone while driving. Making a new habit can be difficult. The key is to stick with it and remind yourself of your goal until it becomes second nature. Attach a sticky note to the steering wheel to remind yourself not to text and drive. If you usually drive alone, you can always put your phone in the glove compartment, your purse, the center storage console under your armrest, or any other place where you won’t be able to reach it. You can keep your device connected to the vehicle for entertainment purposes while avoiding texting and driving.

The best habit you can form is simply turning off your phone when you get into your car. That way, there are no distractions in the car – no notifications, no social media browsing, and no distractions while you try to choose the next song to listen to. However, this is not always an option if you need to use your GPS or phone for entertainment while driving. There are, thankfully, other options. There are numerous apps available to drivers today to discourage them from texting and driving. Drive Safe & Save is an app developed by State Farm Auto Insurance; this app monitors your driving habits each time you are behind the wheel. It not only detects when you’re using your phone while driving, but it also detects when you’re speeding, braking too hard, or accelerating too quickly. The app will also give you advice on how to improve your driving habits. Another great app is AT&T DriveMode which, similarly, this app activates when the phone detects a rate of more than 15 miles per hour. When activated, the app mutes all incoming notifications and sends a text message to the caller or texter stating that the person they are attempting to contact is driving. Parents are also notified when the app is turned off, allowing you to help ensure your child’s safety at all times. So many more apps can limit distractions while driving; you cannot go wrong with either one.

With all this being said, it is essential to hold yourself accountable and your friend as well. I have never been in an accident with my parents or witnessed bad driving, but I have been distracted while driving and almost got in a wreck. It is a scary experience, but it’s essential to learn and grow. I know it’s tricky, especially with Instagram, Snapchat, and Messages coming in through your phone in the form of notifications while you’re driving. That said, It is critical to stick with your habit, resist temptation, and always keep the advantages of concentrating on the road and not driving while distracted in the rear of your mind. If you’re able to learn these things, you will make it home safe and the company in your vehicle. Distracted driving is a pandemic that needs to be targeted head-on, and hopefully, this was able to help.