Choose Wisely

How many times did you look at your phone today on the way to work or school? Before you answer, know that I am not judging. I have facetimed, texted, and snapchatted while driving, and I never saw anything wrong with that behavior because I was flicking my eyes up every few seconds to look at the road or sitting at a red light. So, if we look at the road every few seconds, does being distracted on our phone really matter? The answer is yes, because within those split few seconds, anything could happen. Being educated and alert are key factors that can help reduce driving related deaths.

Education for teenagers should start prior to driver’s education courses for two reasons: not everyone will take those courses depending on their age and state, and driver safety can easily be worked into the curriculum for health classes. In Ohio, once someone turns 18, they can take the driver’s test without having completed any education courses. It is unlikely they would receive the same information about safe driving from parents or friends that they would receive in driver’s education classes. For that reason, driver safety can be taught in high school health classes to inform teenagers about why being educated is important for safe driving. However, students cannot be educated if the tactic being used is to scare them into driving safely. When trying to teach teenagers about driver safety, the fear of ‘using your phone could kill you’ wears off very quickly unless paired with actual information. Use national statistics about driver related deaths and injuries to help students become more aware of the problem, because then they will be more mindful about avoiding risky behaviors. In addition, teaching about reckless driving is also a key factor to reduce driving related deaths: why going the posted speed is important, why driving under the influence can endanger not only you but others, and why staying alert while driving is necessary.

I have been in the car with drunk and reckless drivers, and those experiences have shown me just how quick an accident can happen. When I was in middle school my family and I were rear-ended by a drunk driver. There was damage to his car, but just as quickly as he hit us, he sped away. Thankfully, no one in our vehicle was injured but there were so many variables at play that with just one difference, there could have been another outcome. The size of your car, the speed of your car and the other driver’s, how many cars are on the road, and the weather are all variables that can affect how serious a car accident can be. I have also been in the car while someone was driving under the influence, and I have never been more terrified. As a passenger, you have no control over what happens once you are in the vehicle. I was dress shopping for homecoming, and my mom’s boyfriend had taken me. He waited at the bar next door, and I had no other way to get home besides letting him drive me back. Knowing that he was under the influence and having trouble staying in his lane was an awful feeling. We had made it home safe, but what if we did not? Had he traveled over the lines just a bit too far, or gone just a bit too fast, maybe I never would have gone to the dance because I would have never come home. If you can, find another ride both for yourself and the person attempting to drive, because your life is worth more than the fare for a cab or Uber.

Since those experiences I no longer use my phone while driving, nor do I get in vehicles with someone who is not sober. The few extra seconds it might take to find another ride or sending that text immediately is not something to risk my future over. If I have a long ride I turn on ‘Do Not Disturb’ and put my phone in the holder on the dash, since I usually need the GPS. When I know where I am going, my phone stays in my purse or back pocket. Use the knowledge you have about safe driving to educate others! Anytime I learn about new data regarding driving related deaths, I am always telling my friends. And when I am in the car with them, I make sure they are not responding to texts or driving recklessly. It takes a few seconds to look up data and educate yourself on driver related deaths, and a few seconds to send that text while you are driving. Only one of these options has the potential to cause a life-altering accident, so choose wisely.