Every year, over 2500 people die in teen car crashes involving teen drivers. Turning 16, and getting your license is a huge milestone for teens. All the drivers ed work, and countless hours of driving with your parents has finally come to an end. You have your driver's license and decide to hit the road for a Starbucks run with your friends. However, some teens don’t realize the extensive responsibility that is in their hands. It takes one loud song, text to send, or croissant to eat, that could cost another human's life. Teens face several types of distractions when driving such as GPS, phones, eating, or watching cops arrest someone next to you. In order to decrease the fatalities caused by distracted teen driving, as well as create more confident drivers, I am creating an app called Save a second. This app will block notifications, alert drivers of weather and road conditions, and more.
Distractions are so easy to fall for. It’s not just teens who fall for it, there have been over 290,000 estimated injuries due to distracted driving (National Highway Safety Administration). I have been in several cars where the driver has been distracted-even as an adult. It just takes one second to look at your phone, eat, get directions or look at a rainbow outside. I am writing this essay in July of 2025, and last month I totaled my first car due to distracted driving. I received my license in May of 2024, and I have been a fair driver. My first speeding ticket was due to having the music up to loud, and not paying attention. In June of 2025, I was on my way to work driving on US Rt 20. I was having a notable day, not knowing what was coming for me. There was a man getting arrested behind his car right next to me. I was nosy-several teens are, and so I glanced over for one second. Next thing I knew I rear ended a stopped car in front of me going 45mph. The guy in front of me was hit so hard that he hit the lady in front of him. Like any new driver would, I thought my life was over. My first ever car was totaled, and I’ve been out of a car since then. Once the commotion calmed, I was exceptionally grateful that nobody was hurt, or suffered fatal injuries. I was lucky, but some other teens are not. It just takes one second to look away, and that can cost a life. Having distractions when driving can cause a slower reaction time, and divided attention. With Save a Second, there would not be any distractions to fall for, causing teens with less experience to be safer drivers.

New drivers have very little, to no driving experience on their own. They don’t always know how to drive well at night, in the rain, snow, fog, or other weather conditions. Thankfully, I have never been in an accident due to weather conditions or time of day. However, I have had a few slip ups due to icy roads. I forgot to remember that imaginary glass of water on your dashboard that cannot tip. Not only weather, but driving under a personal emergency is something that takes time to control. It could be that you need to go to the bathroom, you're giving birth, or a family member has just passed. Countless drivers have been faced with some sort of an emergency or tough road condition, but it is the diligent drivers who save the lives. The app I am creating does not just block notifications, it will also alert drivers before they start driving about dangerous road conditions, or weather. Drivers will be notified every few hours about threatening weather or rough roads. Having the opportunity to be made aware of this info multiple times a day, will allow more drivers to decide if that Starbucks run is worth it. Don’t be that guy who ignores it, and ends a life Save a second works like any other app would.
Teen Drivers will download it on their phone, and opt in for their notifications to be blocked while driving. They may also opt in for the continuous alerts for weather. Last summer when I had my license, I would have loved to have Save a Second available to me. In case for whatever reason drivers can not download it, they should know the small, but vast rules in order to stay safe on the road. In my car, I have my music set at a volume that is ideal to stay focused. I do not allow any of my passengers to turn it past my volume, or else I will not drive them anymore. Not only that, but I will answer any texts or emails prior to driving. Better yet, I will let the people who I normally text know that I am driving. Also, there will be a button on the app that will send an automated message to your close contacts letting them know that you will be driving. To reiterate, if someone needs to text me for an emergency, Save a Second can help. The app will not allow any texts to go through if one of the parties is driving. Save a Second will only allow them to call, or offer the option to send the text automatically once they have dropped driving.


What if the road conditions are beautiful, and you have Save a Second updated and working? Teens still are at risk for accidents. Sometimes you need friends to join you on that Starbucks run. Even if everyone in the car has Save a Second on their phone, peer pressure won’t go away. “Approximately 90% of teens reported having experienced peer pressure” . Peer pressure when driving may consist of pressuring to speed, run lights, turn up music, or watch this Instagram reel. It can take one “friend” to pressure you into doing this. Unfortunately, Save a Second cannot prevent peer pressure. However, more teens should consider who they are driving around. Just because that “friend” said that they will get you food doesn’t mean you should risk the trade for someone's life. Free Raising Canes is not worth it. Nothing is worth taking someone else's life. Because of that, there needs to be an increase in teens who are liable for their choice of passengers.
To conclude, teen drivers hold a great vigilance for other drivers on the road. They face lack of experience, and will fall for distractions just as easily as a puppy seeing a butterfly would. Teens don’t have the responsibility of scaring every squirrel on the block. Although, they have their own life, as well as every other driver's life in their hands. Save a second should be a required app for all drivers, especially teen drivers. Teens have a significant life to live, and with this app, it will save them the second to look at their phone. Don’t be that guy and not download Save a second, because it will save you a second or distraction, and it will save lives.