Distracted Driving

 Distracted driving is something you would never think would affect you until it does.  In 2024 alone, 315,167 individuals were hurt because people were distracted behind the wheel. I had always assumed that distracted driving accidents could only be caused by people who were irresponsible or careless behind the wheel. However, my own driving experience has shown me how easily distractions can occur on the road. Small things can take your attention away for a few seconds, but those seconds can change someone's daily life forever, whether that is a fender bender in a small parking lot or a life threatening collision on the freeway. This is why distracted driving continues to be a problem across the nation.

My personal most common distraction while driving is changing my music while behind the wheel. Music always puts me in the mood, and I feel more focused, especially after a long shift at work when I just want to wind down and get home so I can relax or going to my friends house and just be excited to get to my destination. However, I commonly observe myself skipping songs or adjusting my volume while driving. Although it all seems so simple, looking away from the road for even a small moment can be dangerous due to how quickly the environment around can change very quickly, such as a quick brake or even a pedestrian crossing the street; truly anything could happen. Due to this, I will create playlists before driving so there will be no need to pick up my phone or touch my radio while keeping my music at a reasonable volume so I can be aware of my surroundings, such as sirens, other vehicles, and unusual sounds my car may be making. By preparing my music I can help prevent any minor errors that could occur.

  Talking to my passengers is another distraction I have a hard time balancing when driving. When I am driving my friends, I find it very hard to engage in conversations, and sometimes I lose my focus on the road. Especially in fits of laughter, I find it hard to be my easy going self and straight forward lets get from point A to point B. Nonetheless, while the ride could be more enjoyable, my passenger's safety is always more important and can always wait. To fix this, I will keep my eyes on the road when conversing, and if something is too distracting, I will communicate to my passengers that I need to focus on the road. Furthermore, conversations can take up a lot more of your brain than you think, due to this I will only be as active with my passengers to the best of my ability and no more.

  Another useful step I will use to avoid distracted driving is not driving when upset. This seems so small but studies show driving when angered can increase crash risks nearly tenfold, therefore, leading to dangerous behaviors like speeding and aggressive lane changes that can endanger the people around you. Research has shown that when drivers become angry, they are more likely to speed, follow other vehicles too closely, and react more slowly to hazards on the road. This demonstrates how emotions can affect driving decisions and increase the risk of accidents. With my research it has truly been brought to my attention how distraction while driving goes beyond the physical actions and intentions it can be from an uneasy and as a result, an unsafe mental health state.

 Accidents caused by distracted driving are not always made by big mistakes. They can often be a result of small habits caused by routine. By acknowledging my own personal mistakes as a driver and actively taking steps to work on them, I will become a safer driver and not only protect myself but I'm also protecting the other individuals who share the road with me. At the end of the day it's not just about the law; it is about protecting lives. I will always use my voice as a passenger as well if I ever feel that I am unsafe with a distracted driver to ensure everyone's life is safe. At the same time, I am responsible for all my passengers as their driver. They trust me to keep them safe and that is a serious responsibility and by staying focused and being in control of what I can be in control of I will get them to their destination safely.