Education Needed to Avoid Distracted Driving

Over the past decade, smart phones have rapidly gained popularity, becoming very common and often necessary to daily life. However, while we have come to appreciate and rely on the conveniences of cell phones, many people have struggled with the urge to use them while behind the wheel, which has led to an increase in driving fatalities. 

Although there are many dangerous driving habits that should be avoided, such as speeding, driving while under the influence, or tailgating other drivers, distracted driving is by far the most consequential driving habit, leading to hundreds of deaths each year. To try and deter both teenagers and adults from texting while driving, major cell phone companies have curated advanced technology to assist drivers with staying focused while on the road. iPhones, for example, have a feature called “Do not Disturb While Driving,” which, when in use, silences notifications such as text messages and calls. Additionally, many experts recommend putting cell phones in a location that is out of reach from the driver’s seat, such as in the backseat or trunk, in order to deter drivers from reaching for them. Car manufacturers have also developed technology that allows for handsfree, bluetooth-powered phone calls, allowing drivers to have a line of communication while keeping their eyes on the road and keeping their minds attentive to their surroundings. 

While these types of technology can be great assets to drivers who want to prevent themselves from becoming preoccupied while driving, they are not exact solutions to the problem at hand. Many teenagers do not actually perceive the dangers of texting and driving, so turning on “Do not Disturb” may not seem necessary. As a society, we can keep creating technology to deter people from using their cell phones, but that doesn’t ensure that they will actually take advantage of such helpful technology, 

Even though we are constantly told that texting and driving can have fatal consequences, teenagers often go through life with the mindset that it “won’t happen to me,” and believe that these occurrences of cell phone related crashes are extremely rare. On the other hand, it seems as if now more than ever, teenagers are becoming increasingly aware of the dangers of driving while intoxicated. This is because there is extensive education surrounding substances, with programs such as D.A.R.E. Authority figures constantly reiterate to us the negative effects of peer pressure, doing drugs, or bullying others, but they rarely reiterate the negative impacts of distracted driving. 

While driving while under the influence is never safe or acceptable, many do not realize that they are six times more likely to cause an accident while texting and driving than while driving after drinking. Teenagers, especially, do not always understand the weight of their actions. To start combating the issue of texting and driving, education is key. We must change the mindset of “checking one text won’t hurt” to the mindset of “checking one text isn’t worth risking another’s life, or my own.” 

The best way to get people to make smart choices while driving is continuous education in schools. Schools need to recognize and highlight the importance of nipping distracted driving in the bud by educating impressionable, young students. By gathering for assemblies in which there is open conversation about the real-life dangers of cell phone use while on the road, more students will think twice before picking up their cell phones. 

An informative assembly about distracted driving needs to directly present the consequences by providing a memorable and lasting mental image for teenagers. Perhaps hearing the stories of families who have lost loved ones to distracted driving would serve that purpose, as well as make an urgent plea to keep your eyes on the road. 

Additionally, social media has become an integral part of life for teenagers; it has the ability to reach many individuals of all ages, and the ability to make a lasting impact. It should be utilized positively to endorse campaigns that urge people to stop distracted driving. 

Teenagers are always being told what to do, but they also need to be reminded of what NOT to do. The intended lesson about not driving with distraction would be stronger if teens heard it more often. Teens also need to see the faces of people whose lives have been devastated  by one moment of a lapse in judgment by a distracted driver. It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words; you only need one image to remind teens of one word at the moment when they are considering picking up the phone- DON”T!