Turning Bad Habits into Safe Driving

Turning Bad Habits into Safer Choices

Driving a car is a big responsibility, but it is easy to forget how dangerous it can be. When I first got my license, I was very focused. Over time, though, I have gotten too comfortable behind the wheel. I started treating my car like a place to hang out, listen to music, and check my phone. When I look honestly at my driving habits, I see that I get distracted way too often. To keep myself and other people safe, I need to recognize these bad habits and take real steps to stop them. 

My biggest and most obvious distraction is my phone. I do not usually type out long paragraphs while driving, but I am guilty of looking down at it constantly. If my screen lights up with a text, I look at it. If I do not like a song, I try to change my Spotify playlist while sitting at a red light. I also try to type addresses into my GPS while I am already moving down the road. 

Besides my phone, I have some other distractions that are less obvious. One major issue is how loud I play my music. I love to blast my favorite songs, but sometimes it is so loud that I cannot hear what is happening outside my car. Another distraction is driving with my friends. We get into deep conversations, and I find myself looking over at the passenger seat to talk instead of keeping my eyes on the road ahead of me. 

To fix these problems, I cannot just say I will try harder. I need a real plan with concrete steps. To stop using my phone, I am going to take away the temptation completely. Before I even turn on the car, I will turn on the Do Not Disturb While Driving so my phone stays quiet. Then, I am going to put my phone inside my backpack, zip it up, and throw it into the back seat. If it is out of sight and out of reach, I cannot look at it. 

To handle the loud music, I am making a strict rule for myself. I will never turn the volume past the number 12 on my dashboard. This will keep the music at a level where I can still easily hear car horns and sirens. Finally, when my friends are in the car, I am going to make the person in the front seat my co-pilot. Before we start driving, I will tell them where we are going. It will be their job to watch the GPS map and change the music. I will also remind myself that I can talk to my friends perfectly fine while keeping my eyes glued to the windshield. 

Distracted driving is extremely dangerous and can deeply affect many lives in a simple instant. If I am distracted, even for a second, I could change the lives of the people in the vehicle next me, the life of the boy riding his bike across the road, or even the hardworking mom on her way home after a long day at work. My distractions affect everyone around me and everyone involved. My actions can leave innocent people with long-lasting injuries or, even worse, the loss of their ability to go home to their loved ones. 

My family has unfortunately suffered the loss of a loved one because someone simply wasn’t paying attention. The pain is real and something that never truly goes away. I do not want to be the reason another person longs to hear their loved one’s laugh again. 

My changes in my driving habits matter! They matter because if my phone is not accessible, I am not tempted to check my notifications. If my music is not too loud, I am able to be more aware of my surroundings. If my friends are responsible passengers, then everyone on the road, including everyone in my vehicle, will be more likely to make it to their destination safely. Each of these simple changes minimizes my chances of making careless mistakes behind the wheel. 

As a young driver, it is easy to slip into the mindset that accidents will not happen to me. They happen to other people. I have never been in a serious crash, so it is easy for me to believe that my actions are harmless. When in fact, is this not the same mindset that many people have? Accidents happen in an instant, and that realization is what has motivated me to make changes in my driving habits.

My interest in pursuing a career in the healthcare field is another reason I want to make changes in my driving. Doctors and healthcare professionals see the results of distracted driving. They see the consequences of someone being careless on the road. Being a safe driver is not only about following the laws and rules; it is about preventing injuries and saving lives. 

Driving takes all of your attention. By putting my phone in the back seat, lowering the volume, and letting my friends handle the navigation, I can become a much safer driver. These simple changes will help me focus on the road and prevent a terrible accident. I can’t control the actions of others around me, but I can make conscious efforts to do better and be better!