The Future of Driving

In the modern world we live in, cars are a convenient means of travel. All you have to do is turn a key and off you go. Of course, you should probably buckle your seat belt, but unfortunately, some will not even do that basic step of safety. Drivers’ education was something I hated at the time but I’m glad I did. While it is necessary to learn what road signs stand for and how to properly turn a car, you also pick up some things to save on gas like coasting to stops. In addition, it helped me realize how dangerous driving was, despite how casually we do it every day. While this initially made me not want to drive at all, I think this is an important step to go through. Learning the facts and realities of driving made me a more focused driver over the long term. With the dangers driving has, technology could have some answers.

I believe that the number of deaths from driving could be drastically lowered if there was a sensor on your phone that detected what speed you were going. If this speed was comparable to you being in a car, then it would limit the functionality of your phone if you were the driver. The thing is this already sort of exists. Google maps can tell how fast you’re driving, so if it can detect that, I would think Apple or Android phones could then use that information to tell you when you cannot use your phone. While this setting would probably rely on honesty, it would still save the lives of those who used it. In addition, I also think that self-driving cars could save lots of lives on the road. I know this is controversial, so let me explain. A robot will never be distracted and will also be able to communicate with other self-driven cars possibly. People are often concerned that self-driven cars will glitch out and cause an accident. If the cars are tested thoroughly and stress tested before mass production, I do not see the issue. I understand the anxiety of not being the one behind the wheel, but it should be noted that the car is specifically designed to keep people safe when it drives. It will not speed to save a couple of minutes because you are running late for work. It has no emotion, making it completely logical when it drives. It will not experience fatigue or impairment, ensuring the driver will always have a safe way home from parties.

The reason I think self-driving vehicles and smart phone restrictions are so important is because I have witnessed distracted driving before. I must admit, when you are a passenger to a distracted driver, it is very stressful. I used to carpool to school, and one of the drivers would sometimes get distracted by their phone while driving. Now, this never resulted in a crash, but I think that it is more out of luck than anything else. When you are driving at 80 kilometers per hour, even looking at a phone for a few seconds is dangerous. If someone suddenly stops, the distracted driver will have no clue. Luckily, since we were in a carpool, nothing like that ever happened. Even if the driver was distracted, a passenger would be able to notify them. Looking back at it, I wish I spoke up about it more. The driver has since moved away, and I worry he may still drive distracted. I hope he never gets in an accident, but the odds are against him.

Every day, we ride on metal constructs that move faster than any animal ever has. These machines are incredibly powerful, and when two of them collide, people are injured and sometimes die. The chance of surviving an accident becomes lower and lower as your speed increases. Higher speeds mean less time to react, and a greater force on impact. Awareness of the danger of cars needs to be increased. Recently at my school, a kid was hit as they were crossing the street. Luckily from what I hear, the kid survived. Whether the driver was distracted or did not see the kid, I do not know, but I think a self-driving car would not make that mistake. When you drive, be humble. You may be experienced on the road, but the more unfocused you are when you drive, the harder you are making it for yourself. It is time to realize that there are lives on the line here, and to carry that weight when you drive.