Three, Two, One. Those seconds can be as fast as the last seconds of your life. Can you think of a time when you haven't had your cell phone in your hand or in your pocket with instant access to you at all times? Cell phones have made a significant impact on this world, good and bad. The CDC tells us that over 3,000 people have died from distracted driving in 2024 already. Statistics suggest that there are 400 deaths from texting and driving every year in the United States. In today's world, cell phones have become an inseparable part of daily life. From communication to entertainment, they serve as tools that help us stay informed and connected to the people who are near or far from us. Distracted driving has become a leading cause of road accidents worldwide. Physiologically there is a temptation to check notifications, answer a call, or send a quick text message while driving can have horrible consequences that can affect not only yourself but all the people around you, maybe for the rest of your life.

When I was 10 years old, I remember the landline ringing while my family was gathered around the table eating spaghetti and meatballs. The instant drop in my moms face and the hand straight to her mouth not only instilled fear in me and my sisters' heads for what we were about to hear but a sadness in our hearts that lingered for many more months than that moment. We heard the closing phrase my mom had exclaimed with great sadness into the bottom of the phone, “ We will be praying for you and your family”. InstantlyIl wondered what words were going to fall out of her mouth first but she led my dad into the next room to whisper the sad news. Our family friend's daughter had been texting and driving the morning before and passed away in the hospital a day later due to the collision. Even though I was only 10 and couldn't drive yet, my parents made sure to explain the dangers of distracted driving and the consequences from it. From a young age I didn't want it to take such a sad, sad moment for everyone to be able to understand the dangers of distracted driving and that is why it is so important to advocate the dangers of distracted driving and the consequences that come from it.

Staggering statistics are out there for everyone to see, yet we go about our lives ignoring the signs and warnings against using our cell phones while driving. Most people only think about cell phones when you state the phrase distracted driving but there are many ways a driver's attention can be diverted from the road to something else. Eating a burger, paying attention to your kid in the backseat, listening to music, or having a conversation with the passenger can move your attention from the road to the distraction. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), texting and talking on the phone while driving reduces a driver's ability to react quickly to hazards, significantly increasing the risk of accidents. Staying off your phone and staying attentive to your surroundings as a driver can help minimize the risks of accidents, injuries, and fatalities for all. Reports tell us that texting while driving increases the probability of getting in a crash twenty-three times the normal amount, and thirteen percent of the young adults, eighteen to twenty, have admitted to talking or texting before the course of the accident. This is due to the time our eyes are off the road, and our mind’s capacity to do only one task at a time. Just taking our eyes off the road for five seconds, while the car is traveling at fifty-five miles per hour, is the same as traveling a football field without noticing what is going on around us.

I believe that social media which often attaches the world to thier phones is the best way to raise awareness about distracted driving in the United States. Education campaigns by government organizations, nonprofits,schools and even big corporations can help people understand that texting and browsing social media are very dangerous. Using real life stories of accidents or injuries caused by distracted driving can have a very powerful emotional impact and can motivate people to change thier behavior. Public Service announcements, social media campaigns, and billboards can emphasize that checking that notification is never worth the risk of getting yourself or someone else hurt.

Law enforcement plays a significant role in stopping texting and driving. Many countries and states have laws that prohibit texting or using a phone without a hands-free device while driving. Not everyone follows the laws which creates flaws and is the cause of why there are still many accidents due to distracted driving. Stricter policies that are enforced to distracted drivers such as higher fines, points on your license, or the suspension of driving privileges can help motivate people to stay off their phones behind the wheel.


I believe that through awareness of social media to the American people we can make it possible to keep decreasing distracted driving accidents. To whoever is reading this essay or message, I would encourage you to do all that you physically can when advocating for a better safe environment on the road. A Lot of the time you really only have control over your own actions not only on the road but in life but I advise you to take the first step and be an example for others, be an attentive and safe driver by putting your phone somewhere where your phone is not accessible to you in the moment and if you are in the car with someone who is participating in the dangerous act distracted driving encourage respectfully to make sure they are being safe for themselves, the people in the car, and the people around you. Let's make this country a safer place together.