According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving (including, but not limited to texting while driving) was the reported cause of 58% of teen/young adult driver automobile crashes in 2019. Even more shocking, it’s estimated that almost 100% of those reported crashes from that 2019 statistic could have been avoided, simply by implementing attentive driving habits. What is distracted driving? Distracted driving happens when a driver diverts their focus or actions, even momentarily, away from driving their vehicle. It can occur manually (ie. taking your hands off of the steering wheel to turn on the radio), visually (like taking your eyes off of the road and looking at the passenger next to you), and cognitively (such as shifting your mental focus to what you’re going to eat for dinner). Luckily, as drivers, we have the power and the ability to take the steps necessary to stay focused, attentive, and to decrease the statistics regarding teen and young adult drivers involved in automobile crashes as a direct result of distracted driving.
For me, having grown up in a digital age, I feel almost a sense of technology addiction or reliance. As a result, I realize that I have partaken in some potentially very dangerous distracted driving habits in the past. When I was a teenager, I thought it was okay to just send a “quick text” while driving, to constantly keep switching between Spotify stations, and to eat breakfast while on my way to work. These are all prime (and unfortunately) very common examples of manual, visual, and cognitive-based distracted driving.
The first steps to change and growth are realization, followed by acceptance. After a close encounter involving an automobile accident, I realized I needed to address my problem, and take action to be more aware and attentive while driving, not only for my life, but for others’ lives, as well. Since then, I have taken important steps to ensure I remain a vigilant, safe, and attentive driver. I no longer eat while driving, so as to be able to keep both hands on the steering wheel. To help ease my constant need to feel connected to my phone, I connect my phone to my car via Bluetooth prior to driving. This way, it ensures me that 1. I’m not missing out on any important or emergency information via text or call while driving, and 2. That I don’t have to physically pick up or look at my phone to take an incoming call. If I’m digitally speaking with someone prior to getting in my vehicle, I let them know that I’m about to drive, and that I’ll get back to them as soon as I get to my destination. This helps lessen the potential distractions I may face from texts or calls, and also relieves me of the irrational urge to read and respond immediately to a text message. Perhaps most importantly, I’ve learned how to use attentive driving as a meditative practice. If I completely give all my mental focus and attention into the task at hand (in this instance, driving), then I don’t have the mental space nor capacity to begin to daydream or hyper focus on anxious/stressful situations in my life. By eradicating my own distracted driving, I’ve not only made the road a safer place for myself and others, but I’ve developed a healthy mindfulness practice that transcends into my personal life, as well.
Distracted driving negatively affects everyone on the road, whether they are the distracted driver or not. Luckily, distracted driving is easily preventable and fixable, through simple, effective steps. Simply by staying attentive to driving, manually, visually, and physically, a person can significantly decrease the chances of a crash caused by distracted driving.