From the early 1950s, distracted driving has been a pressing issue that requires urgent efforts to resolve. Whether it’s glancing at a text, changing the song on the radio, or giving in to the constant banter of friends in the car, they could all have deadly consequences. Annually, there are 43,000 people who are taken from their families and loved ones, as death has stolen the individual opportunity to progress and grow in society. With each distraction, we must ask ourselves, is it worth killing the person who will cure cancer? Is changing the ‘unbearable’ song on the radio worth ending the life of a revolutionist? These questions present a harsh reality that we must take into account every time our foot touches the gas pedal. Although there are multiple types of distracted driving, electronic use, engaging with passengers, and mental drift are the most prevalent in my own and society’s lives. However, there are steps that myself and others can take to maintain distractions at a minimum and reduce the amount of distracted driving accidents per year.
When it comes to automotive digital technology, society must question where to draw the line between practicality and distraction. For example, many opt to use the voice-to-text feature on most phones while driving, as a seemingly safer option. However, according to Texas A&M Transportation Institute, the voice-to-text mobile apps offer no safety benefits, and present a facade of safety, as most drivers feel safer, but are given the same risks as texting (Fette, 2013). Next, digital maps and directions also bring about a series of problems regarding distracted driving. I often find myself looking where the speed checks are, scoping out the next few miles, and glancing at the estimated time of arrival every few minutes. While these distractions may be seemingly needed to progress on the road, looking down to see the current traffic is the same risk as being temporarily blinded. When looking down for the directions, it is important to recognize the risk associated, amidst its seemingly multiple benefits.
Although carpooling is inevitable, economically friendly, and economically savvy, it has the potential to present multiple distractions with holding a conversation and keeping track of the people in the car. For example, many people, and myself included, try to maintain a friendly persona while driving others around. Especially in adolescent years, the nuance of driving coupled with immaturity and the constant desire for social interaction, it is almost guaranteed to present a plethora of driving distractions. Whether it’s making small talk, sharing about a long shift, or seemingly harmless banter, it is important to remember to maintain complete focus on the road.
Finally, it is most important to be cognizant of the mental drift distraction. This distraction presents the most risk because it often happens when driving alone on highways. Highway driving is a risk in itself; high speeds warrant ample focus, and tragedy can happen in an instant. Myself included, when driving on the highway for seemingly an infinite amount of miles, it is easy to fall into the trap of mental drift. This can be seen as the most dangerous type of distraction, mainly because it happens subconsciously, and is usually only stopped when there is a reason to look up, or another distraction. By then, it is usually too late and it can have fatal consequences.
Amidst these factors, it is important to keep in mind the steps that myself and society can take to reduce distractions and distracted driving accidents. When employing the use of digital technology, for text messages, calling, and other forms of communication, a step that we can take to reduce distracted driving is to put all of our devices on “do not disturb” each time we step into a vehicle. To reduce further distractions, I will change the settings on my phone to make sure that I will not be notified every time I get any notification or message. Whenever someone answers a text while driving, they must treat it as someone’s life. Although this is a harsh reality, each time we look at our devices, it has the potential to cost us a neurosurgeon, ground-breaking engineer, or a business and technological marvel. Next, to avoid distractions when looking at directions, I will internalize the directions before going out, taking note of each road I have to go on, the speed limits, effectively making every effort to reduce the amount of times I look down. Scoping out the directions before going out also prevents further accidents by making sure that I am capable of driving on the roads taken, and giving the opportunity to find an alternate pathway for arriving at my destination that suits my driving level.
Furthermore, whenever driving with others, it is important to communicate with them the expectations when driving, and the potential consequences if the expectations are not fulfilled. For example, before I drive others, I will communicate with them beforehand the pressing importance of distraction-free driving, and make sure that they understand the various risks in a mere conversation.
Lastly, to prevent the nearly inevitable mental drift that comes with driving is a challenging task, due to the fact that it primarily happens when you’re driving alone while driving at high speeds for long periods of time, but not limited to driving at low speeds in a familiar area. While this usually happens subconsciously, there are steps that one can take to avoid this distraction. Primarily, before getting on the road it is important to ensure that you have gotten the optimal amount of sleep the night before. In addition, before I plan out a long drive, I will plan ahead when periodic driving breaks will be. Stopping at a rest stop, grabbing a snack at a gas station, or taking a mental break in a parking lot could be the key to keeping someone’s life.
There are many steps that society and I could take to reduce the fatal effects of distracted driving. In the future, along with employing the mentioned practices, I will continue to do research on how to prevent distraction as automotive technology progresses, and be in constant awareness of how my actions will affect others. After all, each text, call, and miscellaneous distractions can cost the individual who revolutionizes society. We must treat each text message like it will bring fatal despair to the future of innovators. To ensure we are putting our best foot forward for society, we must put our trivial wants aside and think about the future, and reduce the effects of distracted driving to the best of our ability.