Texting while driving is a matter that came to my attention at a young age. I saw an ad on television that was narrated by an individual who caused a fatal car accident because he was texting while driving. I committed right then that I would not engage in behavior that threatens the safety of myself or other drivers on the road. I created habits to help me drive phone-free and be fully alert while on the road. Before I leave the driveway, I set up navigation, and music, and check my phone to make sure I respond to everyone that I need to before I begin the drive. To minimize distractions from my phone, I adjusted a setting that keeps notifications silent, so they do not attract my attention while in the car. While driving, I only take important calls over the car speaker so my eyes remain on the road, and I can keep both hands on the wheel. If I ever get lost while driving or have a need to make a phone call or text, I always pull into a parking lot and stop the car before using my phone to ensure that I do not become a hazard to other drivers. When I ride in the passenger seat, I do my best to be a useful co-driver to minimize distractions for the driver. My mother often drives and uses her phone at the same time, so I offer to send texts and emails for her so that she can focus on driving. These measures help to protect me from distractions while driving and help me be more aware of other potentially distracted drivers.
There are a few preventative measures that I recommend to all drivers to ensure their safety on the roads. First, I encourage anyone who finds themselves easily distracted to turn on the Do Not Disturb feature on their phone before they start driving. The setting is easily turned on and off and is a convenient way to guarantee that there are no distractions while driving. Another idea for solving the texting while driving issue is to have people set aside time in their day to read and answer all emails and texts so that they don’t feel the need to use driving time to catch up. Simple planning and time management make it easy to stay up to date on all communications without relying on commuting time to do so. Ultimately, the best precautionary action is to commit oneself beforehand to not text and drive. Self-control is the surest way to limit any poor behavior. Preventative measures and safeguards will help keep people safe, but they cannot change the behavior of people who do not motivate themselves to follow those safeguards. Drivers can commit themselves to not reading or responding to texts or other notifications, which will truly prevent technology misuse while driving. I also believe that if all people chose to sort out their navigation and music before leaving their house like I do, they would have few reasons to use their phones at all. Many of these ideas have the potential to keep drivers alert and save lives, but these ideas hold no value if people do not choose to implement them. So, it is critical to inform people of the issue of texting and driving and share ideas for how to prevent it.
Modern technology makes the spread of information easier than ever before, and I plan to utilize this technology to increase awareness of preventative measures for distracted driving. First, I will use my social media accounts to create or repost information regarding the risk of texting while driving. When public awareness is raised, people’s motivation to follow safeguards will increase. Second, I can use social media accounts to post short infographics and self-recorded videos demonstrating safety precautions such as turning on Do Not Disturb, preloading navigation, and answering all received texts before starting the engine. Finally, I will use word of mouth to share my ideas with my family, friends, and colleagues. Personal interaction ranks as my favorite way to share ideas because I can show my passion for my cause and answer any questions or objections on the spot. It is significantly easier to persuade people you are close to than those you have never met. Even if the only people I influence are my closest family and friends, the effort would be worth ensuring their safety on the roads. In short, I decided early in my life to not text and drive, and I plan to help others make changes to do the same.