Name: Cristian Fernandez de Castro
From: Miami, FLORIDA
Votes: 0
Cristian
Fernandez de Castro
8540
SW 107 Street
Miami,
FL 33156
305-496-6520
Belen
Jesuit Preparatory School – Miami, FL
Doing
Our Part to Address Driver Related Deaths
Driver
Education is much more important today than in the past. In many
respects, advancements in technology have made life easier, but the
indirect impact of technology has had a negative effect on driver
safety. The methods in place for granting driver’s licenses and
providing drivers ed has largely gone unchanged and with good
reason. The traffic laws and the operation of vehicles are relatively
the same as they have been for the past 20 years. The increased use
of phones, however, and the overwhelming compulsion to be connected
has created a world of distracted drivers on the road.
There
are several steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths
related to driving. A campaign to reduce driver distraction is
needed. Education must emphasize the element of distraction.
Innovators must use technology to address a solution that eliminates
handheld phone use in a moving vehicle. The problem is evident. How
to address it is the issue. When operating a moving vehicle, misuse
is simply not an option.
My
father is a primary example of an irresponsible driver and he has
been called out on it. He used to drive with his phone on his right
hand. He would be scrolling through social media or reading emails
for work while driving us to school. My mother would scold him
primarily for the example he was setting for my siblings and I as
future drivers. It is when my brother, my sister and I called him out
on it while driving that he stopped the habit. It cannot be argued
that a driver with a phone in hand is not fully aware of what is
going on in the road. Not being fully aware is putting the lives of
those in the car and the other drivers and pedestrians outside of the
car in harms way. It is simply unacceptable.
I
went to a restaurant one time that had a small wooden box on the
table. The box was intended to put your phone in it. The restaurant
encouraged patrons to be present with those you are sharing a meal
with rather than being on your phone. The same concept has to find
its was into cars. I think a safety box perhaps with phone chargers
to encourage people to have an added reason to use it can be
marketed. Aside from the proposed solution, being vigilant and
calling out incidences of unsafe driving practices when they present
themselves is something that I can do and will continue to do. I must
also be live the example of being an aware and safe driver.
The
data showing the amount of deaths resulting from driving is alarming.
From what I understand, there was a point in time when just about
everyone smoked cigarettes. If strides were made in curbing that
negative habit that has led to so many health issues and deaths, we,
as a society can highlight and attach the issue of driver related
deaths to make a significant impact on its reduction.
