Last August, my life changed forever. One of my close friends, Maddie, was killed in a distracted driving accident. Even now, as I write this essay, I can still feel the raw emotions that hit me the day I found out. My heart races, the tears fall, and the painful truth sinks in all over again: Maddie is never coming back. Writing this essay is hard—really hard—but I know it’s also important. Distracted driving isn’t just a statistic or a warning on a billboard. It's real. It’s personal. And in my case, it cost the life of someone I loved.
Maddie’s death made me take a hard look at my own driving habits. Before her accident, I didn’t think twice about reaching for my phone to change the song on Spotify or glancing at a Snapchat or text from a friend. These things felt small and harmless in the moment. But now, every time I even think about picking up my phone while driving, I picture Maddie. I remember the hurt, the shock, and the silence that followed the news. And I remind myself that no song, no message, no post is worth a life.
From a very early age, I’ve been told how dangerous driving can be, especially inexperienced teen drivers. Motor vehicle crashes are one of the leading causes of death for teenagers in the United States. Teens are significantly more likely to be involved in serious accidents. My dad is a firefighter paramedic, and my mom is an emergency room nurse at a Level 1 trauma center in Boston. Both of them have seen first-hand what distracted driving can do, especially with teen drivers. My dad has been on countless accident scenes where drivers were distracted—sometimes by their phones, sometimes by food, passengers, or even daydreaming. My mom has treated patients with injuries ranging from broken bones to life-threatening trauma. The reasons for the accidents varied, but a very high percentage involved inexperience or distracted driving. I think that my parents shared their stories with me not to scare me, but to make me understand the seriousness of what happens when someone behind the wheel loses focus, even for just a second.
Knowing what I know now, I’ve committed to changing my own habits as well as those of the people that I love. The first and most important step I’ve taken is putting my phone on “Do Not Disturb” every time I get in the car. I also keep it out of reach. Usually, my phone is in the backseat or in the glove compartment. I don’t want to even be tempted to touch it! I have gotten into the habit of setting up my GPS and my playlist on spotify before I start driving. That way, while I am driving I don’t have to touch my phone while I am on the road. If someone sends me a message, it can wait. If I need to respond, I’ll pull over somewhere safe to view and respond to the message. If I’m driving and someone asks me to check my phone or change the music, I tell them no. It might feel awkward at the moment, but I’d rather be the “boring” one than the one who causes an accident. And if I’m in someone else’s car and they’re driving distracted, I speak up. It’s uncomfortable, but it's worth it. Unfortunately, I know the cost, and I am not willing to sit silently and risk losing someone else that I love.
Education, awareness, and ad campaigns aimed at young drivers are absolutely necessary. Driver’s education programs provide knowledge and skills. They teach drivers traffic laws, safe driving techniques, and how to handle various driving conditions. These programs also promote safe habits like seat belt use, defensive driving, and the importance of avoiding distractions. I think that teens need to know the raw truth that distracted driving can cause death. Teens often think that they are invincible, I know that I did. Everyone thinks that “it won’t happen to me.” But the truth is, accidents can happen to anyone. However, some accidents are preventable. Teens need to know that they have the power to change. Change can happen with one person, one habit, one choice at a time. I wish I could bring Maddie back. I wish I could go back in time and somehow stop what happened. I can’t. But what I can do is carry her memory with me, and make sure that her story helps prevent another tragedy.