Understanding Teenager Stubbornness: The Effective Gameplan to Eliminating All of My Driving Distractions

I reside near the heart of Omaha, Nebraska, where I face a wide range of driving settings, from bustling one-way streets near downtown to clear multi-lane “stroads” in the sparse suburbs. Living in this car-centric city, I have become so accustomed to driving frequently, sometimes forgetting its significant dangers—especially when there are distractions.

As I reflect on the two years since I joyfully received my driver’s license, I have come to realize that I possess more distracted driving habits than I initially thought. Instead of highlighting each habit as a distinctive example, I will categorize them into three groups to better understand and address them.

The first category, which I call “Dopamine Receptor Demands,” includes all my habits relating to entertaining the five senses of my bored driving-self. To satisfy my ears, I find myself skipping songs, changing playlists, and even searching for a song while at a red light or in a slow, clear road. I satisfy my other senses by playing with my necklace, taking bites of food, or even enjoying the scents of objects like candle sticks—all while driving with just one hand on the wheel. I even itch to satisfy my sense of sight by focusing on sunsets, cool-looking buildings, and those occasional street protests that fuel my curiosity. While I tend to justify these actions as ways to make driving more fulfilling, I understand that even minor distractions like adjusting the volume or reaching for another potato chip are not worth the lives of myself and others on the road.

The second category, called “The Occupied Brain,” includes the constant distracting thoughts I have while driving. It could be an ordinary after-school drive, yet I dwell on what happened in each class period, whether it was the grueling multiple-choice history test, or the awkward conversations I had with my crush. This rumination is not any less distracting after important events, such as my junior year summer internship interview or my National Honor Society ceremony presentation. The most distracting thoughts occur, however, when I have an important unrelated decision to make, outlining the most detailed pros and cons list in my head while driving through a bustling street. Although my never-ending thoughts do not necessarily affect my five senses, they can lead me to dangerous situations, such as unintentional lane changes or near collisions.

Lastly, I call my third category “The Most Perfect Driving Scene,” which includes habits involving obsessively adjusting my environment while driving. Even when my car is moving on the street, I tend to constantly adjust my rear-view mirror so that all four corners of the rear window are shown in my sight, or glue my eyes to the speedometer, making sure that the lever is on or below the speed limit. In red lights, I even find myself placing my gear park to adjust my seat so that my feet are at a distance where they can smoothly press on the brake. Although these habits initially seem helpful for my driving, they divert my focus from all the other hundreds of moving elements on the road.

I have such a wide variety of distracted driving habits that it would seem impossible to eliminate all of them. In addition, with the stubbornness that comes with being a teenager, it would be incredibly difficult to even make the effort in the first place. However, I have discovered a proactive solution that technically eliminates all these distractions yet does not suppress any of my desires: simply preparing beforehand. In other words, I can take many actions before starting the engine that would allow me to still enjoy my environment without compromising safety.

While reflecting on my first category, I figured that to still be able to enjoy the best music without skipping songs or searching up music while driving, I can simply set up a time before my drive to create a perfect playlist. Thus, I can have a spotless listening session without picking up my phone. I can similarly prepare for my other five-sense related distractions by eating a full meal before driving and using a rear-view mirror scent for a pleasant driving experience.

Defeating distractions in “The Occupied Brain” category is also achievable through preparation. After overwhelming events, such as exams or interviews, I can simply just sit down and reflect for a moment before starting the engine. This method is much easier than instantly driving and suppressing my thoughts, especially when acknowledging the way my mind subconsciously wanders even while driving. While this method would not be ideal if I am in a rush, taking a few minutes to review my thoughts and clear my mind before putting the gear to drive is worth it when it comes down to saving lives in the long run.

And of course, preparing my car scene beforehand to defeat my third-category distractions is possible–and in fact, necessary. I learned in my drivers’ education class that before starting the engine, I should always adjust my car seat, my mirrors, and other aspects inside the vehicle. Therefore, there is no reason for me to have to distract myself with those adjustments while driving.

It is important for me to take time to really get to know the nature of my distracting driving habits before making improvements. I realize that my game plan of planning beforehand to beat my distractions is easier said than done. Yet, I firmly believe it is a manageable and tactical approach to ensure both my enjoyment and safety on the road. Overall, I will continually strive to reduce my driving distractions to guarantee the security of myself and the people around me.