Preventing texting and driving

Distracted driving kills people. Around three thousand people die per year due to distracted driving, which is an easily preventable death. Distracted driving is classified as the act of driving engaging in other activities which distract the driver’s attention from the road. These distractions can be caused by texting or calling, drinking, or simply distraction by passengers. Though we cannot prevent all car accidents, we can prevent distracted driving. It is important to prevent these accidents from happening by first bringing awareness and creating solutions of how to stop it from continuing.

As technology is becoming more prevalent in our daily lives, it is important to understand that there is a time and a place to put the phone down. When driving, several events are happening at once. It can already be difficult to focus while these events are simultaneously occurring, but it is even more difficult when the focus of the driver is not on the road. Instead, their focus is on their cellular device, usually calling, texting, or on social media. Majority of accidents caused by teenagers are from distracted driving, usually from calling or texting. Most people think that once they get accustomed to driving, they can start using their phones even while driving, but statistics state otherwise. Surprisingly, such a big problem has a simple solution that many teenagers do not follow. A solution I personally use is to put the device in the backseat, out of reach and out of sight. Making a habit of keeping my phone out of reach is a solution to prevent texting. Additionally, turning the phone on do-not-disturb, so even if a call or text is received, it will not alert the driver. Some phones even have “driving mode” for safety reasons like this. By keeping the phone out of reach, even if there is a temptation to grab the phone, by knowing it is out of the driver’s reach, they will be less likely to attempt to grab it, therefore preventing possible distraction.

When driving distracted, the senses used to drive are also disrupted. This includes visual and manual senses. An example of a visual distraction when the driver is looking down at their phone to see what their friend texted them. When doing this, their eyes are not focused on the road and they are now refocusing that sense on their phone instead of the activity that is more important, driving. Manual driving is also dangerous to lose focus of. Manual driving is the driver having their hands on the wheel to drive. When the driver picks up their phone or tries to text while driving, they are losing their control of the wheel, causing them to have less control of the entire car. When the driver loses both visual and manual control of driving, they are more likely to crash, whether it be into a person, a sidewalk, or another car. It is crucial to remain focused while driving and keep these senses active to avoid any accidents from occuring.

Sometimes, I even step up by making sure my friends and family members are not on their phones. If I am in the passenger seat, I tell them whatever they need to do, whether it is change the song or make a quick text, I can do it for them. When I lead by example, this encourages them to also not be on their phones as well. By stopping the phone from being a distraction, drivers will be able to focus more on what is in front of them so that it is hopefully not a person. Even if you are the passenger, it is important to speak up and let the driver know that it is not okay to put not only the driver’s life, but the passengers’ lives in danger as well to simply answer a text. Do not be afraid to “overreact” because it is better to be overreact and be alive than to underreact and possibly be in a hospital bed or even worse, dead.

Distracted driving is a gigantic problem, but it is not a problem that is impossible to solve. Though the billboards and laws created have helped decrease distracted driving, it has not eliminated the problem entirely. The only way to completely eliminate the problem is if each person themselves stops driving distracted. With the help of everyone spreading awareness, decreasing the dreadful statistics is possible. The last thing any driver wants is a death or injury on their hands. Just remember: When you’re distracted, who is driving?