Behind the Wheel

Behind The Wheel 

Keshawna Exum

Every time I get behind the wheel, I make dozens of decisions without even realizing it. Most of them seem harmless: changing a song, checking my GPS, taking a sip of my drink, grabbing a quick bite to eat, or responding to a text. Like many drivers my age, I convinced myself that these distractions only took a second. I never considered how much could happen in that second until I found myself drifting into another lane or nearly driving into a ditch because my attention was elsewhere, not on the road. Those moments forced me to realize that distracted driving is not just dangerous in theory; it is something I have personally experienced, and it is a habit I am committed to changing.

Distracted driving has affected my life long before I ever received my driver's license. About a year before I was born, my grandmother was involved in a serious car crash caused by a drunk driver. Although I never knew her before the accident, I lived with the consequences of it every single day. She broke her back and eventually underwent two knee replacements, rotator cuff surgery, and several other procedures. Even after all of those surgeries, the pain never truly disappeared. Every day, she relied on multiple medications just to make it through normal activities. Watching someone you love wake up in pain, struggle to move, and constantly battle the lasting effects of another person's decision changes the way you look at driving. She continued fighting that pain until she passed away in January 2026.

Because of her experience, I have always known that careless driving can permanently change someone's life. Ironically, I still developed distracted driving habits of my own. I have changed songs while driving, looked down at my GPS instead of the road, eaten meals behind the wheel, taken drinks while driving, and even glanced at or responded to text messages. Although I have never caused a crash, I have drifted into other lanes and nearly driven into ditches because I wasn't fully paying attention. Those close calls made me realize that I was depending on luck instead of safe driving habits, and luck eventually runs out.

One of the biggest lessons I have learned is that distracted driving does not always begin with one major decision. More often, it begins with small choices that seem harmless on their own. Looking down for a few seconds to answer a text, changing a playlist because I do not like the current song, or taking a bite of food can feel insignificant. However, those few seconds are enough for a car to travel the length of a football field without the driver fully watching the road. Before I started driving, I assumed serious crashes happened because people were being reckless on purpose. Now I understand that many crashes happen because ordinary people convince themselves that "just this once" will not matter. Recognizing that mindset in myself has been one of the most important steps toward becoming a safer and more responsible driver.

Stories in the news reinforce that reality. Whether it is someone driving recklessly because of anger, speeding through traffic, or making another careless decision behind the wheel, innocent people lose their lives every year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, thousands of people are killed annually in crashes involving distracted driving. Those victims are more than statistics; they are parents, grandparents, children, friends, and classmates whose lives changed because someone looked away for only a few seconds.

Changing my habits requires more than simply saying I will "pay better attention." I have created specific steps that I will follow every time I drive. Before leaving, I will enter my destination into my GPS so I do not have to adjust it while driving. I will put my phone on Do Not Disturb and keep it in my cup holder instead of in my hand. If I receive an important call or text, I will pull over safely before responding or wait until I arrive at my destination. I will choose my music before I begin driving instead of constantly skipping songs, and if I know I will need to eat, I will wait until I arrive or stop somewhere safe. I also plan to leave earlier, so I never feel pressured to speed or rush because I am running late.

My grandmother spent the rest of her life living with pain because of someone else's irresponsible choice. I cannot change what happened to her, but I can choose how I drive every day. Every decision I make behind the wheel affects more than just me. It affects every passenger, every family traveling beside me, and every person waiting for someone they love to arrive home safely. Becoming a safer driver is not something I will accomplish with one promise or one good day of driving. It is a commitment I have to make every time I get into my car. By eliminating distractions, planning ahead, and staying focused on the road, I can protect both myself and the people around me. No text message, song, meal, phone call, or notification is worth risking a life. That is a lesson I learned from watching the consequences of one driver's decision affect my grandmother for the rest of her life, and it is a lesson I will carry with me every time I turn the key in the ignition.