Name: Kristian Leigh Derrick
From: Jackson, TN
Votes: 0
On
a seemingly gloomy rainy day around early spring of 2010, my mother
and I were driving back from Walmart. My mom was listening to the
Allman Brothers on the radio while I was in the back seat eating my
Reese’s Pieces that I had gotten from the store earlier that day.
Suddenly, I heard a loud noise comparable to what I thought at the
time as a bomb. I felt a cold gust of wind blow into the car and cold
raindrops falling onto my neck. I regained awareness of the situation
and turned around just to see that the back windshield had been
shattered and the trunk was elevated and smashed. The back window had
fallen in on me which later caused me to be covered in scratches due
to the pieces of glass that had gotten stuck in my hair and clothes.
My mom pulled the car over and we recouped making sure that we were
both alright. We had been rear-ended by a young man with a heavily
lifted truck hauling multiple ATVs. Although we did not suffer from
any serious injuries, our car was completely totaled, and the man
faced no consequences. We were later informed that the man who had
hit us had been texting and driving in the rain, causing him to lose
focus of the road, and ultimately rear-ending us.
At
the time of the wreck, distracted driving was not a highly talked
about topic; the media mostly emphasized drinking and driving. This
accident could have easily been prevented if the driver were more
responsible. Although distracted driving has gained more attention
since the time of this accident, people continuously drive while
being distracted, whether it be texting, eating, or blaring the radio
at its maximum volume.
Measures
to ensure safer driving have been implemented through legislation
that promotes a zero-tolerance policy for distracted driving.
Violations of this law include fines, ranging from $20-$500, while
severe cases can result in a misdemeanor or jail time. (Smith and
Brangoccio) It is up to each individual to carry out the necessary
precautions for safer driving. The first step is to be informed about
the severity of distracted driving. More than 3,000 people are killed
each year, and another 400,000 are injured due to distracted driving.
(Vegega) Drivers ed is a great resource that provides the
necessary tools imperative for skilled drivers. However, not everyone
has the funds to pay for drivers ed, but they can learn
safety tips through other means, such as the internet.
In
order to reduce the yearly death rate of driving, people can become
more familiar with using their turn signals or driving the speed
limit. If one is easily tempted to use their phone, put it in the
glove box on silent. Also, one could benefit from being a defensive
driver. To be a defensive driver is defined as “driving to save
lives, time, and money, in spite of the conditions around you and the
actions of others.” (“American National Standard Safe Practices
for Motor Vehicle Operation”) This means that if you were to be
running late for work, school, or sports practice, think about the
effects of your actions. You could not only injure yourself, but also
other drivers, people’s pets, or someone’s child.
Works
Cited
“American National Standard
Safe Practices for Motor Vehicle Operation”, American Society of
Safety Engineers, Des Plaines, IL, 2006
Kitch, A., & Brangoccio, K.
(n.d.). State and Federal Efforts to Reduce Distracted Driving.
Retrieved November 20, 2019, from
http://www.ncsl.org/research/transportation/state-and-federal-efforts-to-reduce-distracted-driving.aspx.
Vegega, M., Jones, B., &
Monk, C. (2013, December). Understanding
the effects of distracted driving and developing strategies to reduce
resulting deaths and injuries: A report to congress. (Report
No. DOT HS 812 053). Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration.
