How to Prevent Distracted Driving

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Alexis Randolph

March 25, 2020

Scholarship

How to Prevent Distracted Driving

What is distracted driving? Distracted driving is driving while taking part in another activity that takes your attention away from the road. It increases the chance of a motor vehicle accident. Whether it's sending a text message, talking on a cell phone, using a navigation system, changing the radio station, or eating while driving any of these distractions can endanger the driver and others. This is why it's important to teach those who drive about safety. It would help to minimize the risk of accidents by educating the public on what distracted driving is and how it can be avoided.

In the U.S, approximately 9 people are killed in car accidents per day while more than 1,000 are injured in crashes that were reported to have a distracted driver involved. Anything that takes your attention away from driving can be a distraction. Though one could say that there are three types of driving distractions; such as visual distractions that take your eyes off the road, manual distractions that take your hands off the wheel, and cognitive distractions that take your mind off of driving. There are many things that can factor into a distraction and endanger our lives this is why education is key.

Many people already know that driving while intoxicated is dangerous, an idea that is drilled into people from high school to driving school. However, I’ve found that most people I’ve asked about distractions admitted that although they wouldn’t drink and drive they didn’t think that distractions such as eating, texting, and even taking their eyes off the road to get something out of there bags were even dangerous. Texting while driving is especially dangerous because it combines all three of the different types of distractions. When you send or read a text message, you take your eyes off the road for about 5 seconds. That is long enough for your car to cover the distance of a football field while driving at 55 mph.

Drivers under the age of 20 have the highest percentage of distraction-related fatal crashes. There are many states that are enacting laws to ban texting while driving. They are also using graduated driver licensing systems for teen drivers to help raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving and help prevent it from occurring. But there are still a lot of people who are unaware of just how dangerous their actions can be. So it is up to us as people to educate ourselves and others. If you see someone driving recklessly let them know how they are putting themselves at risk and how they may also be endangering others. We can also practice safe driving on our own time and lead by example.

Work Cited

Burgess, Ted, et al. “Which Is More Dangerous: DUI or Driving While Using a Cell Phone?” Los Angeles DUI Lawyer Information, 19 Aug. 2016, www.losangelesduilawyer.org/los-angeles-dui-info/which-is-more-dangerous-dui-or-driving-while-using-a-cell-phone/.

“Distracted Driving.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 Sept. 2019, www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/distracted_driving/index.html.