In 2024, more than 3,000 deaths were caused by texting and driving, and more than 13,000 deaths were caused by alcohol-related driving through the use of decreased cell phone usage while driving and not driving drunk, the deaths caused by accidents through phones and alcohol can be less.
Too many deaths in a year are often caused by car accidents that were caused by texting and driving. Smartphones have become such a big part of our lives especially those between the ages of 13-25. It makes it hard for one not to get distracted while driving by a notification, but through the use of phones do not disturb and iPhones driving focus, notifications can be paused and you can answer when done driving, therefore, decreasing the number of distractions while driving. Teens often don’t understand the real consequences that can happen from texting and driving, and as a 17-year-old though I have never been in a wreck because of texting and driving, I can agree that notifications from messages are a huge distraction to drivers. If teenagers would just stay off the phone, turn on that focus that limits the notifications, and see just the consequences that come from texting and driving, I think that the deaths from texting and driving would go down so much. If a text is so urgent that it cannot wait to be responded to then give them a call, I am not saying calling while driving is much better but if it is an emergency a phone call is better than a text message. If you are so addicted to texting that you have to do it while texting, 1. Maybe you're not ready to be on the road if you cannot even take a break from texting to drive, and 2. Maybe if someone else is in your car, they need to hold your phone till you arrive at your destination to prevent the possibility of responding to a text and texting while driving, it also may be smart to have someone put your phone out of your sight but where it can be reached if needed in an emergency.
A HUGE part of deaths in a year is caused by accidents related to drunk driving. As a 17-year-old, I have never been drunk to even drive nor have I experienced a wreck with drunk driving, but my mom has been in an accident where a drunk driver came in her lane and hit her and her twin sister head-on, thankfully they are okay but I think it shows that people do not take drunk driving seriously and will do as they feel even if it can affect others. Though I may not have had any experience with deaths from drunk driving, I have heard stories of those who have lost someone from drunk driving incidents and it affects you mentally and emotionally even though you had no experience with it. So before you try to drive home after a fun night drinking, remember those who are missing loved ones because of drunk driving. If you do know that you are going to drink a lot that night that can result in you being drunk, make sure to let someone who isn’t with you know before you go out, and make sure you have a backup plan/ride in case things get out of hand. And if you just so happen to not have anybody that can take you home BEFORE you get in that driver's seat drunk to drive home, there is a service that can take you home if you are drunk. When drunk, you can sometimes make stupid decisions, do not get in a car with a stranger unless it's someone you know. If you get in a car drunk with a stranger something terrible could happen to you or possibly even them. If all else fails the police department will give you a ride home, they want to not only protect you but also protect those on the road with you when you risk drunk driving. Do not be the one that causes there to be more deaths due to drunk driving, IT IS NOT WORTH IT, the guilt you may feel from knowing you caused deaths from your drunk driver will stay with you forever and nothing can take that guilt away.
In all, you do not want to be the one that causes another car accident death due to texting or driving, so before getting in the driver’s seat drunk or pulling out your phone to text while driving, think about the guilt that will live with you because of the deaths you caused from drunk driving and texting and driving.