In the Driver’s Seat

Driver education is essential for safe driving. It is the driver’s responsibility to know the rules of the road, drive undistracted, maneuver during emergencies, and ensure the safety of themselves and all other passengers. A study by the Hedges Company found that 91% of Americans possess a driver’s license as of 2024 (Hedges Company, 2024). The possession of a driver’s license confirms that knowledge of the rules of the road has been demonstrated. This is why the inevitable excuse of “I was not aware” does not work when law enforcement pulls a vehicle over for breaking a driving rule. Everyone is aware that a speed limit is to be followed, a turning signal is required before lane switching, and that everyone should stop when emergency vehicles need to pass. Often, drivers opt to break a rule for convenience or for the sake of time.

Another big issue that continues to increase while driving is the use of cell phones. Talking on the phone, texting, and scrolling through social media has become a habit for many drivers today. According to a study, drivers use their phone for 88% of their trips for at least 3.5 minutes each trip (Marshall, 2017). A few minutes does not seem like a lot of time; but when you think back to any accident or tragic crash, a common excuse is “I just looked away for a second.” A second is all it takes. Three and a half minutes has 210 seconds. This is 210 opportunities for an accident to occur or a mistake to be made. The issue is not only incompetence in the rules of the road, but also distracted and unfocused drivers causing accidents as well.

To reduce the number of deaths related to driving, focused driving must increase. A solution for this is to push the usage of the driving focus feature on the iPhone and Android. This feature allows individuals to silence notifications and texts while driving. Insurance and cell phone companies can offer incentives for the use of the feature. Popular apps such as Instagram and Facebook should automatically lock and be unavailable when a user is sensed to be driving. This can be accomplished with AI technology, sensors, and data analytics. Another solution is increased use of camera security on streets and highways. These cameras are already in use in school zones and express lanes. The cameras take a picture of a violator’s license plate and send a ticket via mail. These same tactics can be used for individuals holding their phone or scrolling while driving. My last solution is to increase ticket fines for distracted drivers. Every state has different fine amounts and consequences that include points, community service, and license suspension. The lowest fine I researched for the first time offenders was 25$, and the highest fine I discovered was 1000$ and up to 4 points on your driver’s license. Fines should increase and decrease yearly according to compliance rates. Some of these suggestions may seem extreme, but so is the death of an innocent driver due to a distracted driver.

Thankfully, I have never been in a bad car accident, but I have been in two fender benders. One caused by another driver and the other caused by me. The one I caused was due to distraction. I was scrolling on my phone at a red light. The turning lane next to me began to move and I pressed the gas without even looking to see if the car in front of me had begun moving. They were not moving, and I rear ended them. As mentioned earlier, it only took a second for me to look away and rear end this vehicle. I was pregnant at the time, and the life of my unborn son flashed in front of my eyes. Everything happened so fast. Although no one was hurt and neither car was damaged, I was so shocked at my mistake. I could have hit a pedestrian, set off the airbags, or forced that other car into oncoming traffic. From that day forward, I vowed to be more focused on the road because I witnessed firsthand how something could go terribly wrong in a matter of seconds.

The steps I can take to be a better driver is to first take precautions prior to starting the car. I take my time buckling my son in his car seat, no matter the weather or how late we are to an event. I ensure every passenger has their seatbelt on prior to moving. I opt for podcasts, audiobooks, or music to keep me focused on the road. I will continue to use the driving focus feature on my iPhone to limit tempting notifications. My dedication to driving safely has made me more aware of all the drivers I pass that are not driving safely. I have been saved from countless accidents and near misses just by simply paying attention. I hope this motivates you to do the same.