Can't Focus When You're Social

Cell phones are a major part of our daily lives. People use them every day because that's how we keep in contact with others. Texting friends, checking social media, answering calls, and in general staying connected with people in our lives. However, using a phone while driving is extremely dangerous. When driving, you think checking one notification really quickly isn't going to cause a problem, but even a few seconds of distraction can lead to a serious accident. Driver education is important because it teaches people in society the dangers of a distracted driver and how to make safer decisions behind the wheel. Put the phone down when you are driving; that simple choice can save a life.  

As stated, driver education is important when it comes to being distracted when you are on your phone. Driver education teaches people that distracted driving is not just looking away from the road. It can also involve taking your hands off the wheel or thinking about something other than driving. Learning about these distractions helps drivers recognize dangerous habits before they cause an accident. It also teaches people to prepare before driving, follow traffic laws, and keeps their attention on the road. There are several types of distractions, including visuals and manuals. When your eyes are off the road to glance at a text or even scroll on social media means you are not watching. This is dangerous because you are missing out on traffic, pedestrians, or brake lights of the person in front of you. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that it takes 5 seconds of your eyes not being on the road when reading or sending a text. Another distraction is when holding your phone and hands off the wheel. This forces you to steer, shift, or react with either one or no hands. Holding your phone while driving reduces your control on the vehicle and makes it harder to react quickly. Ways on how to stay safe is to put the phone down; you can turn it on silence before starting the drive. When doing this, you can set up your GPS and music before driving as well to keep others safe. Another way is if it's an emergency you can pull over, but if not, you can wait until you stop or get to your destination to pick it up and look at it. While doing these tips of staying off your phone, you are also preventing the deaths of people. Everyone, as experience being on the phone when you or someone is driving. 

Growing up in a generation where almost everyone has a cell phone, I have experienced how easy it is to become distracted while driving. I have never been in a car accident, but I have had some scary moments because of phone distractions. One time, I looked at my phone while driving on the highway. When I looked back up, I realized I was in the middle of the road, and another car was coming towards me. I had to quickly swerve back into my lane to avoid a possible collision. It was frightening to realize that looking at my phone for just a few seconds could have cost me or someone else their life. That experience made me take distracted driving more seriously and taught me to prepare before getting behind the wheel. Now, I turn on Do Not Disturb on my iPhone to silence notifications and set up my music and GPS before I leave. My car has an Apple CarPlay, which displays my music and direction on the screen so I can follow my route without picking up my phone. I also believe it is important to encourage my friends and family to do the same.  

Educating people about distracted driving is important because it can help prevent dangerous decisions. In Georgia, the Hands-Free Law prohibits drivers from holding their phones while driving, with certain exceptions. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 406 people died in crashes that involves cellphones use in 2023, compares with the 437 in 2024. Although these numbers do not prove that every crash was caused by a phone, they also show how serious the problem can be. By following the law, putting our phones away, and encouraging others to do the same, we can help make the roads safer. 

Many people have experienced someone using a phone while driving. Driver education, personal experiences, and information about distracted driving can help people understand how to stay safe on the road. So next time you go on a road trip or just to town, leave the phone alone and focus because you can't focus when you're social.