Speaking as a teenager I can say that social media is one of the most addicting activities I participate in. However, when it comes to driving I know better than to use it while focusing on the road. I say this not to make myself look like a saint but to express that going on your phone while driving is a very risky thing. I have seen the news reports, witnessed car crashes, and have had family members injured in car crashes. Solely because the other person was on their phone. People have discussed their concerns about drunk driving and more people need to start talking about the risk of texting while driving to inform those who are active drivers to be more cautious while on the road. The goal is to educate as many people as possible on the dangers of distracting driving and it is through stories and experiences that their goal could be reached. What holds society back from achieving safe driving habits is the fact that they are so hooked on the drug of social media that at times they don’t see the harm it brings to them, this is especially prevalent in teenagers which is why there are so many teen car crashes seen on the news. The number of deaths due to distracted drivers is astonishing since most people are advised to drive carefully, but of course, it is always good to also provide real-life crash situations to people for them to truly grasp the severity of it. There are some ways in reducing harmful driving habits but most of the efforts all depend on the driver itself, it takes willpower and some common sense that one shouldn’t be on their phone while driving.
One way to prevent going on your phone while driving is to simply put it on silent. According to a University Professor in Philadelphia, having your phone on “do not disturb while driving” mode, “decreased phone use while driving by 50 percent.” By limiting the noise and sole fact that you have received a message while driving you are less likely to try and respond to it. The sound of notification is so addictive to the average person nowadays that an article reporting on the findings of many studies about chemical reactions behind notifications says that, “dopamine can create drug-like addictive behavior, and notifications offer an enticing loop of pleasure that can manipulate us into habitual and unconscious attachment to our devices.” Every time we wait for a notification we receive that small bit of dopamine and when we finally do receive that notification our dopamine levels shoot up; similar to an addict we crave more of that good feeling. So what is best is to shut off your notifications, which automatically puts you at a better chance of not checking your phone.
Another way to reduce being on your phone on the road is by just removing it from the equation. Instead of having your phone in the front where you can have easy access to it anytime it would be best if you put your phone out of sight and out of reach such as in the back of the glove compartment. Anywhere that makes it a challenge for you to access. This method would work best if you also keep your phone on silent, it would be great if by doing this you can forget about your phone and its constant interruptions. Although society has normalized using your smartphone for everything, we need to learn how to enjoy being without it. To enjoy other little things in life is important and we can enjoy more in life without having our faces buried in a screen.
One law firm reports that “that cell phone use while driving leads to 1.6 million crashes each year. Nearly 390,000 injuries occur each year from accidents caused by texting while driving.” These numbers are terrifying and if you care about your life and loved ones it is best to just avoid going on your phone. Beating your phone addiction is the first step to not using it while driving and understanding that it hurts your life can help beat the addiction. I for one used to have a habit of checking my notifications while at a red light, which may seem harmless, however, while on the road (even at a stop) you must always be aware of your surroundings and be alert. When I was checking my notifications on my phone a car behind me was speeding and couldn’t brake hard enough to prevent a crash. It rear-ended my car and since I was too distracted on my phone I didn’t prepare myself for the impact and I flew forward hitting my steering wheel hard enough to cause a bloody scene. This experience that I share just goes to show that being vigilant at all times while driving, or at a stop on the road, is necessary and more drivers (especially teen drivers) need to comprehend the consequences that could come with spending just a second on your phone. I’ve learned my lesson through my own experiences and the best I can do is to share them with others so that they may understand as well.
The rules and regulations placed for drivers are made for a reason. Teens with their phones and other teens in the car can be a recipe for disaster however if they take the proper precautions tragedies can be avoided. If they silence their phones, focus on the road, and make it a priority to keep their attention on it instead of their friends then there should be no sign of harm in the future. And one of the best ways to spread the knowledge of safe driving is to simply inform people of the dangers, expose them to real-life situations and incidents of crashes, and provide help to those who ask for it if they are struggling to depart from their phone. It’s quite simple and any bit of information can change someone’s habits for the better, thus providing a safer road and a saved life.