Distraction
Free Driving

For 16 years while I was sitting in the passenger seat as my Mom took
me to school, lessons, or practice, I was able to text, Google, turn
the heat up and down, take a nap, do homework, fiddle with the GPS,
or eat diner. Once getting behind the wheel, I began to realize that
all of these tasks are huge distractions and a real safety concern.
I had no idea that the slightest distraction like even reaching down
for a french fry can be potentially accident causing because my focus
had shifted. The number one thing we can do to make the roads safer
is to educate all drivers about the dangers of distracted driving.
Education can be in the form of lessons students receive while in
driver training, billboards or digital signs all drivers can see
while driving, televised advertisements, discussion or even
reprimands from friends or fellow passengers, and electronic
reminders posted on YouTube or any type of social media. All drivers
need constant messaging and continued education that points out how
risky distracted driving is and what the end result can be. Driving
is not the time to text or put on make up or read the map; the
driver’s focus should be solely on the road. It is dangerous
business and an average of 34,000 die each year as result of driving,
but this number can be greatly diminished if distracted driving can
be reduced.


I once read an article at school about how we all think we are
successful multi taskers but with driving this isn’t the case.
Your attention is limited and you might think you can read a text and
keep the car on the road, but you are actually an impaired driver in
this instance. The wonderful thing is that this article pointed out
that once the phone is put away, there is no compromised driving and
you are again fully aware and cognizant of your environment and a
high functioning driver. So unlike a drunk driver who is impaired
and driving with a delayed reaction time and will continue in this
condition until sober, a distracted driver only needs to put away the
distraction and can be again a responsible driver.


Education is the key to awareness about the dangers of distracted
driving. Just as there was a big campaign to educate everyone about
the need for seat belts a few years back, a similar and even more
influential case needs to be to made that safe drivers are the ones
who have checked all distractions. As a teen, I can call out my
friends or even my family members who might think they have to answer
that phone call and point out that truly taking that call can be a
matter of life and death. Getting all drivers on board and educated
about how cell free and distraction free driving enhances safety is
the answer to making us all feel less at risk on the road.