Stop the Distraction

Safe driving is the most common concept discussed with new drivers. Unfortunately, this does not eliminate or prevent the risky behavior of texting and driving. Adults fail to realize without proper explanation and reasoning teens will not realize the horrific accidents that can potentially manifest in the few seconds you’re distracted.

The majority of teenagers are fantastic at tuning out their parents. It’s a gift that comes with age. While it might be nice to ignore the criticism on a poorly written paper or a chastising for leaving dirty dishes in the sink, teens fail to realize there are some conversations that provide insight from their previous mistakes. Driving safely is one of the conversations that oftentimes gets blown over due to it’s apparent simpleness. People know how to drive with caution and their full attention they choose not to. The problem is that behavior continues until it becomes the problem factor in an accident.

Driver’s education is seemingly the perfect solution to teaching young adults how to drive with caution. However, regardless of the vital curriculum and importance the lecture style teachings decrease students attentive span and increase the number of heads resting on desks. While driver’s education is of the utmost importance for new drivers and offers countless educational lessons it needs some reform to increase the retainability of information. Creating a highly interactive course with hands-on learning would be extremely beneficial for those participating in the class and would aid in their success of driving safely.

Accidents happen within the blink of an eye, however most accidents can be prevented by correctly teaching drivers the importance of distracted free driving. Another issue along the same lines is driving while intoxicated. The same principle applies: people know they should not however they do regardless. Everyone knows what the consequences are of participating in either activity. Either you get in trouble with the law or you get in a possibly fatal accident. However, while knowing the possible situations they may become entangled in, the majority of drivers don’t stop to think about how that would affect their lives. Such as living with the fact you got in an accident and harmed or even killed someone else, how would that affect your mental health after being charged with involuntary manslaughter? That’s the issue within society is that people fail to understand the extent of the consequences that follow their actions.

Many steps can be taken to decrease the number of unsafe drivers, including police taking texting and driving more seriously and pulling over those of us who participate in those behaviors. With higher immediate consequences it would reduce the number of people texting while driving. Much like when there is a police car close by and everyone abides by the speed limit or even drives under it. However, that is not a flawless solution. Another way to limit people on their phones is to have do not disturb on while driving. Apple, recently over the past few years has developed a feature to track your speed and automatically silences all notifications. Though a genius idea it can be bypassed quite simply. In the United States everyone is legally required to have car insurance, incase of any accidents that happen. Insurance is increasingly more expensive due to the number of accidents that increase as the years go by. However, this might be an alternative to get those who drive distracted to become more attentive. Hypothetically if everyone was legally required to have a dash camera in their cars to not only help with accident faultage but with driving safety as well. Insurance could pile extra fees onto monthly insurance for using technology while behind the wheel. Not to mention that knowing you have a dash camera would cause you to be on your best behavior as if a police officer was beside you. At the end of the day those who want to break the rules will and sooner or later they will pay for their choices, but the goal is to prevent younger generations from forming any of their unsafe driving habits. That starts by being a good example. Teaching young children and even your current teenages that you follow the same set of rules you preach to everyone else. At the end of the day nothing is more important than making sure you get home safely to your family. Texting back your friends can wait and so can social media.

I’ve personally experienced car accidents due to the driver using technology. When I was nine my father was in an accident, he was stopped at the stop light when a distracted woman plowed into his parked car at over fifty miles per hour, totaling his car. My own car was totaled while parked in the front of my house, when a neighbor was speeding and on her phone. She ended up hitting my car twice somehow, breaking the left front and rear control arms and the left rear axle. Luckily everyone in these situations was unharmed however, that is not the case for the majority of drivers who get into an accident. The reason I drive distraction free is because I don’t want to imagine the pain my family would go through with worry and I could never live with myself if I hurt someone due to my lack of attention. I can assure you whatever it is can wait, whether it’s someone on snapchat, your significant other texting you, or checking to see who liked your post.

As you age you become a role model to those younger than you. It is adults America’s job to teach the importance of driver education and safety to limit automobile accidents and the deaths related to them. However, the first step is being the example instead of the hypocrite. Young drivers learn the laws and dangers of driving. But, the one thing people fail to teach is the consequences of unsafe actions. Many young drivers are unaware of the harsh laws and consequences they could face. With the right education and practice they will be able to be a part of those who value their lives and others over social media.

With the proper education, reasoning, and explanation new drivers will be the generation of drivers safety and can influence those of us current drivers to participate in safety too.