Distracted Driving

The same goes for anything in life, without proper knowledge in something mistakes are bound to be made. Without the proper training and knowledge that you gain from driver education people would be unaware of the “road rules”. Our roads in the United States would resemble that of a third world country where roads can be utter chaos. Accidents and traffic congestion are the norm because there is no structure or rule to the way they drive. Nowadays, the major factor that I have seen to influence the amount of accidents and deaths related to driving would be the invention of the cell phone. It is no secret that our generation is completely fixated on our smart phones and social media. We are constantly on them checking emails, social media, texting friends, phone calls, looking at different apps installed on our devices like weather or anything else that we have now completely at our fingertips at every moment. It becomes second nature to pick up our phone without even thinking about it and start mindlessly scrolling or messaging someone the moment we have a thought pop into our heads. In relation to deaths, people are finding themselves in automobile accidents all the time because they are unaware of their surroundings and forget to keep their eyes on the road as they’re driving down the freeway when they pick up their phone to check a message that just came through and suddenly they’ve rear ended another car.

The simplest step to take that can help to reduce related deaths would be to stay off the phone when driving. No texting, calls, or internet, all of it can wait. I recently got married and my husband is from Australia. Over there they have cameras that monitor the roads and are meant to catch people texting and driving or speeding, so if the camera snaps a shot of you driving with a phone in your hand they send you a fine. The photo shows you in your vehicle with your license plate therefore they have all information necessary to send you a ticket for breaking the law. Texting and driving is a serious offense because it puts lives at stake, if we had heavier law enforcement regarding phones here like they do in Australia we would see a great reduction in the number of deaths related to driving.

I have not personally been affected by a car accident with myself or family, but you see the news constantly with texting and driving being a main offender. I will continue to take steps necessary to be safe on the road by leaving my cell phone in my purse while I’m driving so as to not be distracted by it and also encouraging my family and friends to do the same, if I’m driving with someone and see they become distracted with their cell phone I will talk to them about the risk they are putting themselves and others at to hopefully make a difference.