Steer
Clear of Distracted Driving

Driver
education classes cover everything from street signs to parallel
parking, but fail to effectively address the seriousness of
distractions. Distracted driving has disastrous effects on not only
the driver, but other individuals as well. Most people do not realize
that every day they drive a car they are operating a 4,000 pound
machine that is easily capable of crushing a human. Driving is a task
that requires every ounce of attention to be able to safely
accomplish. With today's advances in technology, distractions are
easily found and harder than ever to avoid. Drivers need to be made
aware of distractions, such as cell phones and Bluetooth, and what
these distractions can result in. By teaching drivers how to avoid
objects that cause obstruction to their driving, they can make the
road a safer place to travel for both themselves and others. I
experience the irresponsibility of other drivers when I ride with my
family and my friends. Whether it’s to check a message or change a
song, a cell phone somehow always finds its way into the drivers’
hands. “I only looked at it for a second,” they say. What they
don’t know is it only takes a second for a life changing accident
to happen. In order to ensure that I am not tempted by the
distractions of my phone while I drive, I place my phone in my purse
and shut the ringer off. By keeping my phone out of sight and out of
mind, I am better able to better focus my attention on driving.
Avoiding these distractions to become a better driver helps make the
road a safer place. A snapchat filter might be able to fix your
selfies, but they can’t fix your life after an accident.