It’s not just the Driver’s Life When the Car is Turned on

Written by Cooper Gilbert

The stories on the news are always the same, drunk driver kills family, or just a simple text message to the distracted driver ends an innocent person’s life. They all come from people not knowing what can easily turn one’s life around in a split second. This can be solved with drivers ed to experience behind the wheel.

Drivers education is something already that teens take in order to get their license; the way they get teens to not text and drive or perform unsafe driving habits is by scaring them. They do this by showing pictures of car wrecks, and driver’s stories of what has happened, to that of stories of families who have lost loved ones. The question then is how do we keep current drivers to be as safe as possible? Is scaring them the same way do it? The answer is it’s on a person-by-person basis, and if the goal is for everyone to be a safe driver that can be a daunting goal.

What steps can be taken to prevent this? One simple way that everyone can take part in is calling one another out on it. If you are a passenger in the car while someone else is driving, if they check their phone, call them out on it. If you think they aren’t capable to be in the driver’s seat, call them out on it before they get behind the wheel. Explaining to a friend or family member while they are making a poor decision, forces them to take a pause and reflect upon the responsibility of their actions. It gives the passenger a chance to remind them about those news stories, and know that it’s not just their life in their hands. Furthermore, if multiple people are in the vehicle offer to help keep the driver from temptations of distractions by taking their phone and play games for them, or be in charge of the music that is playing in the car, or even engage in simple conversations. Another way is for news networks to produce more stories that promote the consequences of not driving sober or distraction-free so that teens in drivers ed classes aren’t the only ones to be reminded of these important lessons.

I have been lucky enough to have never been in an accident, but I have been in a vehicle with a distracted friend. This is not an optimal situation. Although it’s fun driving with friends and jokes and laughter can be shared, on the other hand, young drivers need to be aware of their capabilities, and learn to know the correct time to concentrate on the road. This is something teens need to be aware of when being a passenger with friends that are new drivers.

Further steps that can be taken when in the driver seat is turning your phone on silent or setting it on do not disturb. This will turn off notifications to one’s phone and have the phone distraction-free. Another setting on phones is driving mode; preventing the opening of certain apps and turning off notifications. If the driver’s eyes are tired, not in the right mindset, whether depressed or angered; or even under the influence, it is not the time to drive or get behind the wheel. It is important for a driver to remember that the best way to keep from being in a news story is to reduce distractions and prevent friends from them too.