Distracted Driving

Andrew Burget

In the Driver’s Seat Scholarship

15 March 2020

Distracted Driving

“Distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with the stereo, entertainment or navigation system — anything that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving”(NHTSA). There are three types of distracted driving; Visual Distraction(taking your eyes off the road), Manual Distraction(taking your hands off the wheel), and Cognitive Distraction(taking your mind off of driving)(CDC). I personally have some experience with distracted driving. My friends and I spend a lot of time together. Sometimes we stay each others’ houses and sometimes we just go out and do things. When we go out, one of us has to drive. I am the youngest out of my close friend group so I was the last one with my license. Now that I have my license, I always am the one driving my friends around because I would rather drive my friends than be driven by my friends. Some of my friends drive faster than others. Also, some of my friends blare their music which is a distraction. I don’t want to ride with them with their music blaring and them getting in an accident. “Distracted driving is dangerous, claiming 2,481 lives in 2018 alone. Among those killed: 1,730 drivers, 605 passengers, 400 pedestrians and 77 bicyclists”(NHTSA). Drivers can be distracted in so many ways. “Texting is the most alarming distraction. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that's like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed”(NHTSA). If these stats haven’t shocked you, I do not know what will. What can be done to stop or limit distracting driving? Geico suggests to only use your phone in emergency situations. I believe drivers should put their phone somewhere where they can’t access it. If you’re feeling drowsy, pull off the road(Geico). You shouldn’t be driving if you’re tired. Also, Geico advises people to limit your passengers, avoid eating while driving, and learn to multi-task outside of your vehicle. The more passengers there are in the vehicle, the bigger chance of a distraction occurring. If you are hungry while you are driving, stop somewhere to get food and don’t eat it while you’re driving. “Each day in the United States, approximately 9 people are killed and more than 1,000 injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver(CDC). That statistic frustrates me. People need to be careful and cautious driving. In conclusion, Distracted driving needs to be put to a stop. People need to realize that before it’s too late. Sharon Heit once said, “In a split second, you could ruin your future, injure or kill others, and tear a hole in the heart of everyone you love.”

Bibliography:

[email protected]. “U Drive. U Text. U Pay.” NHTSA, 6 Mar. 2020,

www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving.

“Distracted Driving.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 Sept. 2019, www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/distracted_driving/index.html.

“Tips to Avoid Distracted Driving.” GEICO,

www.geico.com/information/safety/auto/teendriving/distracted-driving/.

“Quotes and Slogans about Texting While Driving: [Please Insert Site Url].”

Comedy Traffic School®, 24 Jan. 2018, www.comedytrafficschool.com/quotes-slogans-texting-driving/.