Don't Read This Wile Driving

On a seemingly gloomy rainy day around early spring of 2010, my mother and I were driving back from Walmart. My mom was listening to the Allman Brothers on the radio while I was in the back seat eating my Reese’s Pieces that I had gotten from the store earlier that day. Suddenly, I heard a loud noise comparable to what I thought at the time as a bomb. I felt a cold gust of wind blow into the car and cold raindrops falling onto my neck. I regained awareness of the situation and turned around just to see that the back windshield had been shattered and the trunk was elevated and smashed. The back window had fallen in on me which later caused me to be covered in scratches due to the pieces of glass that had gotten stuck in my hair and clothes. My mom pulled the car over and we recouped making sure that we were both alright. We had been rear-ended by a young man with a heavily lifted truck hauling multiple ATVs. Although we did not suffer from any serious injuries, our car was completely totaled, and the man faced no consequences. We were later informed that the man who had hit us had been texting and driving in the rain, causing him to lose focus of the road, and ultimately rear-ending us.

At the time of the wreck, distracted driving was not a highly talked about topic; the media mostly emphasized drinking and driving. This accident could have easily been prevented if the driver were more responsible. Although distracted driving has gained more attention since the time of this accident, people continuously drive while being distracted, whether it be texting, eating, or blaring the radio at its maximum volume.

Measures to ensure safer driving have been implemented through legislation that promotes a zero-tolerance policy for distracted driving. Violations of this law include fines, ranging from $20-$500, while severe cases can result in a misdemeanor or jail time. (Smith and Brangoccio) It is up to each individual to carry out the necessary precautions for safer driving. The first step is to be informed about the severity of distracted driving. More than 3,000 people are killed each year, and another 400,000 are injured due to distracted driving. (Vegega) Drivers ed is a great resource that provides the necessary tools imperative for skilled drivers. However, not everyone has the funds to pay for drivers ed, but they can learn safety tips through other means, such as the internet.

In order to reduce the yearly death rate of driving, people can become more familiar with using their turn signals or driving the speed limit. If one is easily tempted to use their phone, put it in the glove box on silent. Also, one could benefit from being a defensive driver. To be a defensive driver is defined as “driving to save lives, time, and money, in spite of the conditions around you and the actions of others.” (“American National Standard Safe Practices for Motor Vehicle Operation”) This means that if you were to be running late for work, school, or sports practice, think about the effects of your actions. You could not only injure yourself, but also other drivers, people’s pets, or someone’s child.

Works Cited

“American National Standard Safe Practices for Motor Vehicle Operation”, American Society of Safety Engineers, Des Plaines, IL, 2006

Kitch, A., & Brangoccio, K. (n.d.). State and Federal Efforts to Reduce Distracted Driving. Retrieved November 20, 2019, from http://www.ncsl.org/research/transportation/state-and-federal-efforts-to-reduce-distracted-driving.aspx.

Vegega, M., Jones, B., & Monk, C. (2013, December). Understanding the effects of distracted driving and developing strategies to reduce resulting deaths and injuries: A report to congress. (Report No. DOT HS 812 053). Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.