Imagine a high school student driving to school, nervously going over their class presentation in their head. They’re thinking about how they’ll start, trying to remember their talking points, and hoping they don’t embarrass themselves in front of the class. Their hands are on the wheel, but their mind is somewhere else entirely. They’re not texting, not changing the music—they’re distracted by life.
We talk a lot about phones and how dangerous they are while driving—and rightfully so. Phones are still one of the biggest distractions on the road. Between texts, GPS, music, and social media, it’s easy to get pulled away from what matters: the road. But what people don’t talk about enough is a distraction that can’t be measured in screen time—what’s going on inside a young driver’s mind.
As a young driver myself, I’ve experienced this firsthand. Between school, sports, clubs, work, and personal responsibilities, my days are full. I’ve been involved in multiple sports, held leadership and member positions in over 10 clubs, and taken some of the most advanced classes offered at my school. With everything going on, it’s no surprise that driving sometimes becomes more than just transportation—it becomes my only alone time.
There have been many moments when I’ve found myself using my drives to rehearse class presentations, study for tests, or reflect on something that went wrong earlier in the day. I’ve had full conversations with myself in the car, trying to figure out if I was in the right or wrong because of some drama that was happening. I remember one day in particular where I didn’t have enough time to study the night before because of practice and an essay for another class, so I literally decided to study for my entire math test for my first period class while I was driving to school. By the grace of God, I made it to school safely, but there were multiple times in the car ride where I would drift into another lane and was not paying enough attention at all. I wasn’t trying to be unsafe, but my attention definitely wasn’t on the road. Looking back, I realize how much of a miracle it is that I didn’t get into an accident, especially considering that I was doing that on the highway.
The truth is, we don’t always notice when we’re distracted—especially when that distraction comes from inside. Mental rehearsing, overthinking, and emotional stress can pull our attention away without us even realizing it. For young drivers, who are already less experienced behind the wheel, this can be especially dangerous. It only takes a second of zoning out to miss a red light, a pedestrian, or a car stopping suddenly in front of you.
Driving takes more than just moving the car—it takes mental focus and emotional awareness. Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye, which is why being distracted on the road is never safe. You have to be able to react quickly, process everything happening around you, and make good decisions on the spot. That’s hard to do when your mind is filled with stress from school, pressure at home, or social drama.
Once again, cell phones are one of the biggest issues that we face as drivers because they are so tempting and so accessible. However, it’s important to remember there are other lasers that can be taken to improve safety on the road because cell phones are not the only issue. Let’s say, in a perfect world, we could remove phones from the car entirely. We’d still be left with another major challenge: helping young drivers manage their mental distractions. And unlike a phone, you can’t just turn your thoughts off. That’s why it’s so important for us to start talking more about the internal distractions that affect teens and young adults every time they get behind the wheel.
For me, I’ve started making it a habit to check in with myself before I drive. If I know I’m feeling overwhelmed or distracted, I’ll take a moment to breathe or even pause before getting in the car. It might sound small, but that short moment of awareness can make a big difference.
Personally, I’ve only driven for around three years now, but throughout the entirety of me learning how to drive to the point where I am now my grandmother has had to say to me that I have remembered every time I’ve gone out on the road. She told me to “always have to drive for the other person.” Meaning, when I’m on the road it is important for me to stay locked in on the road because sometimes I can be driving safely and focused, but others on the road can be driving irresponsibly, and that puts me at risk of an accident. That’s why this saying reminds me that it’s important to not only pay attention to what I’m doing, but also to what others are doing so that I can avoid any and all accidents as much as possible.
Driving isn’t just about what’s happening on the road—it’s also about what’s happening in your head. If we want to help young drivers such as myself stay safe, we need to start addressing the mental and emotional weight we carry into the car every day. Young minds move fast—but the road demands full attention because accidents only take a split second to occur when we least expect it.
If we’re serious about cutting down distractions, we can’t stop at phone policies and warning signs. We have to start with the person behind the wheel—and that means helping young drivers manage stress, build awareness, and understand the responsibility that comes with driving. Because in the end, it’s not just the car that needs control—it’s the mind, too.