NO DISTRACTION IS WORTH A CAR CRASH OR A LIFE!

Dawn
San Luis

13519
Devan Lee Drive East

Jacksonville,
FL, 32226

321-313-3434/[email protected]

No
Distraction is Worth a Car Crash or a Life!

The
car swerved, screeching along the road. The tyres hissed over the
smooth asphalt concrete. My body flew across. The car tumbled over
and over. My bones, joints, muscles, and organs felt like they were
being pulverized and crushed into tiny fragments. The paralyzing fear
started to creep inside me. I could not hear anything except the loud
thumping of my heart and the sound of my own breathing. Every second
feels like an eternity as I stayed there motionless, waiting for
someone to rescue me. I heard my phone buzz, “Hey bro the movie is
about to start, where are you?” As I lay there, regret came rushing
over me. It was me who took my eyes off the road. It was me who was
texting. It shouldn’t have been me if I had just focused on
driving. It shouldn’t have been me if I had just waited. I prayed
and I prayed, all I could do was hope for the best… A
close-friend of mine told his story from a terrifying, life-changing
car accident. I am simply here to make a statement. No text is worth
a life.

Driving
is a decision. From the very moment you decide to put your keys in
the ignition, to you deciding to adjust your mirrors, to you deciding
to fasten your seat belt, to you deciding to put your foot on the
break, and finally, to you deciding to switch the gear to drive, are
all decisions no one else but you can control. United World of
Transportation stated that
on average, “a driver will make 160 driving decisions/mile. So, for
a 1500 mile route, that is 240,000 driving decisions. In a 7 day
period, that adds up to 1,680,000 decisions; in a year, 87,360,000
driving decisions!” And it only takes one wrong decision to turn
your world upside down (literally and figuratively). Remember that
every decision counts and
know that the decisions you make and the actions you take, not only
affects you but also the people around you.

There
are countless factors to the degree of risk when driving. Take
distracted driving for instance. Texting or talking on the phone,
eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with
the stereo, entertainment or navigation system—anything that
diverts your attention away from the task of safe driving are
examples of distracted driving. Ending distracted driving is a
colossal task in a world of never-ending technological advances.
Multi-tasking while driving is a hazard, and technology use is the
most common temptation. This leads us to the real question: what
better steps can our drivers take to reduce the number of deaths
related to driving? Apart from experience, knowledge and
understanding the importance of driving rules and regulations. It is
the best way to avoid catastrophe, crashes, and any types of car
accidents. As boring as everyone might think, driving education
provides not only drivers but pedestrians the knowledge, skills, and
attitudes needed for vehicle safety. Drivers ed courses help
an individual gain experience and it boosts their confidence enough
to know that they can handle what happens on the road and make safe
decisions.

According
to the Association for Safe International Road Travel, “nearly 1.25
million people die in road crashes each year, on average 3,287 deaths
a day. An additional 20-50 million are injured or disabled. Unless
action is taken, road traffic injuries are predicted to become the
fifth leading cause of death by 2030.” What better way to reduce
the number of deaths caused by road traffic? Road safety is a shared
responsibility. To stop, prevent, and reduce future fatalities, it
requires the participation of people from various different
disciplines, including the government, organizations, international
agencies, road engineers, motor-vehicle designers, law enforcement
officers, health professionals, educators, community groups, most
importantly you and me. The government should legislate and enforce
laws governing speed limits, alcohol impairment, seat-belt use, child
restraints, and safety helmets. Another way to reduce possible deaths
is to make vehicles more protective visible for occupants,
pedestrians and cyclists; using daytime running lights, high-mounted
brake lights and reflective materials on cycles, carts, rickshaws and
other non-motorized forms of transport. Together we can promote safer
and more efficient trips; encouraging the use of safer modes of
travel, such as public transport; and incorporating injury prevention
measures into traffic management and road design. One last possible
step to implement is to make a world-wide anti-distracted driving
advertising campaign using television and social media. Drivers
cannot ignore messages that combine both television and social media
to get the message out. It will raise awareness of the dangers and
consequences of distracted driving. To be a better and safer driver
as well as help others become safer on the road, personally, I will
focus on driving. Keep my attention and eyes on the road at all
times. No-multi-tasking while driving, put all the distractions away
and focus on what is happening around me. Follow the rules of the
road and be courteous to other drivers.

Driving
is so common that sometimes we lose sight of how dangerous it can be.
It is imperative for drivers to know and understand the different
rules and regulations of safe driving. June may be National Safety
Month, but safety should be practiced 24/7 while driving. Be
attentive and drive responsibly. You and I have the power to stop
future road traffic deaths, it’s a matter of commitment,
accountability, and informed decision-making. The most basic question
is not what is best, but who shall decide what is best because your
decision matters.

Works
Cited

Association
for Safe International Road Travel. “Road Safety.” ASIRT,
Maryland:Potomac.
June

12,
2015.

Glynn,
Ketsy. “20 Tips for Becoming a Safer Driver.” Social
Graces. June
4, 2018.

United
World of Transportation. “Facts on Decision Driving.” Federal
Motor Carrier Safety

Regulations.
January
11, 2018.