Preventing Distraction

On my drive to work each morning, I find myself watching the drivers around me. When waiting at red lights, I peer over to my left and right, and catch a glimpse of the people in other cars. It is always strange to see how many of my fellow commuters are looking down at their phones. Smiling, as they reply to a text from their partner, or as they change their playlist to better fit their mood. I count them, sometimes; how many distracted drivers I can spot in one twenty minute car ride. This game continues as I move through intersections, and down the freeways that lead to my office. I am forced to triple check the decisions of other drivers, who may not be focussed on the road. I know that I am being vigilant and defensive, to a fault perhaps, but it is still bizarre to see how many other drivers are not. Do they simply not care about the safety of others? Or are they just distracted?

Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of car accidents in the United States, accounting for a whopping 3100 deaths and 424 000 injuries in 2019, according to the CDC. That is an astounding number of people who were killed or seriously wounded due to reckless behavior, and I am sure that most of those situations were completely preventable. Every driver makes a million decisions while driving from point A to point B, and driving while distracted is just another one of those choices.

I don’t think that distracted drivers are purposefully putting themselves and others at risk; as their decisions may only be due to a lack of education. Many drivers might not understand the risks involved with distracted driving and how it can affect the people around them, especially when just learning. In fact, it is teenagers between the ages of 15-19 who are especially vulnerable to becoming distracted behind the wheel. As this group is also the target demographic for many educational driving programs, bad habits like distracted driving could be prevented before they even begin to form.

Through driver education, preventative teaching can take shape. With elements that include classroom learning, online modules, and behind the wheel practice, new drivers are given the tools to succeed. Besides just new driver training, driving schools now offer specialized courses focusing on the dangers of distracted driving. They discuss the causes and effects of the issue, the factors that might increase risk, and provide strategies to help prevent distracted driving. Learning about these topics and becoming comfortable with discussing them is vital for new drivers. And beyond just learning about the facts and figures, this education helps to build empathy and compassion for the victims of distracted driving. When stories are told about these preventable deaths and the lives that have been really impacted, the message is absorbed a little deeper. Hopefully by incorporating the stories of real people, and learning from them, the roads will become a little bit safer. Educating new drivers and equipping them with the compassion and empathy they need in order to actively choose not to drive while distracted, will save lives.

This education process begins in new driver training, but I think that as long as someone is actively behind the wheel, the learning should not stop. Not only are distracted driving courses available as a part of new driver training, but refresher courses are now becoming available for experienced drivers. In many places, taking refresher drivers education courses come with incentives, like discounts on auto insurance. These incentives give more experienced drivers a reason to update their knowledge, and become more vigilant on the road. This win / win situation makes things like auto insurance more affordable, while also helping to develop safer driving practices for those who might otherwise not have attended driver education classes. These savings are not only applicable to individuals, but to the larger community as well. Driver training combats many large scale issues such as increased insurance costs, hospital and healthcare costs, and the loss of productive workers due to preventable accidents. Distracted driving benefits no one, and eradicating it will have a large scale impact on the lives of everyone.

With distracted driving becoming one of the leading causes of car accidents, more must be done to combat the problem. The development of driver education specifically designed to target and eliminate distracted driving on the road is one solution. Mandating new driver training and including specific coursework related to the dangers of distracted driving will target the problem at its root, as it is teenagers that are more likely to drive while distracted. Driver education works as a preventative measure for new drivers, but also as a strong reminder for more experienced drivers. By creating incentives and special programs for those who receive the training, more adults will be likely to participate in educational programs. These opportunities for learning are something that everyone should experience before getting behind the wheel, and before taking up the responsibility of driving. If all drivers are able to take these courses, and really understand the consequences of distracted driving, then lives would be positively impacted all across North America.