Distracted Driving- The #1 Cause of Crashes

Jessica Gardner

November 30, 2020

Distracted Driving- The #1 Cause of Crashes

What is the importance of driver education in reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving?

Distracted driving is known to be the number one cause of motor accidents. It not only has the potential of killing passengers in the motor vehicle, but also others outside of the vehicles as well. When researching the definition of distracted driving, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states, “distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from driving… anything that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving” (Distracted Driving). With furthermore studies, it shows that sending a text while driving takes the drivers eyes off of the road for approximately five seconds. Within this time span, this is about the same as driving the length of a football field; with your eyes closed! I firmly believe in the importance of driver education being the reasoning behind reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving, simply because by reading or even watching videos on the topic at hand, can teach a person the dangers of driving and what could possibly happen to anyone.

What steps can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving?

The first step that can be taken by the driver to reduce the number of deaths related to driving is to not multitask. What is meant by this is actions such as, switching the music, eating, texting, calling, etc. These are simple actions that can be reduced instantly, and actions that can be done either before or after the trip.

The second step can be done by the passengers in the car. If you are a passenger in a car of a distracted driver, it is the passengers obligation to speak up. The passenger has the ability to keep the driver safe and remind them that they need to pay attention of what is in front of them. Lastly, the passenger is able to perform the tasks that were previously stated for the driver. The passenger is able to handle the phone, whether that be sending over a text or guiding directions. By working together, both the passenger and the driver can help prevent accidents.

Peers can be a great way to encourage others to not participate in distracted driving. Listening from the advice of others close to a person is often times more likely to have a better outcome, than advice coming from a complete stranger.

To also help lower the death by distraction rate, state legislatures and governors make laws against texting/talking on the phone, and other forms of distraction while driving. This form is often taken through receiving a ticket; for example, the “U Drive. U Text. U Pay.” campaign. This campaign promotes the safeties of driving, and the cost of putting others at risk of dying or getting hurt.

Have you ever had an experience of being in a car accident or have seen your friends or family members driving irresponsibly?

Fortunately, I have not had an experience of being in a car accident, nor have my friends or family. Both my family and friends take driving seriously, and do not go on our phones while driving. When we drive, we put our notifications on mute, and place our phones in a spot we could not easily access while driving. An experience that I am able to explain though is what I see everyday. Each morning as I drive to school, I notice that many people are either eating or are on the phone while driving. Surprisingly, this is more seen with adults driving than teens. I find this both surprising, but also not surprising at the same time. Surprising in the way that adults are teaching their children and teens to drive responsibly and to be safe, so seeing this as a teen can be shocking. It’s almost as if they are not leading by example. It is not surprising though to me that adults are the ones I see doing this every morning, because many teens today are being taught about the dangers of distracted driving.

What steps can you take to be a better and safer driver as well as help others become safer on the road?

In middle school, my classmates and I, along with the help of an organization, created a commercial that had aired on TV on the dangers of distracted driving (link listed in citations). A lot of thought and research was put into the making of the commercial. I believe that learning about the dangers of distracted driving at a younger age helped me become the safe driver that I am today. To be a better driver, and to help others be more safe on the road, I use the commercial and others stories as a reminder to drive in a safe manner. Nobody wants to be injured or cause harm to others because of a mistake, which is why it is better to fix habits now rather than later. All it takes is one time, one text, one second to save a person’s life. Leave the distractions alone until you are parked, and arrive at the destination safely.

Citations

[email protected]. “U Drive. U Text. U Pay.” NHTSA, 5 Oct. 2020, www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving.

“Distracted Driving.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 26 Oct. 2020, www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/Distracted_Driving/index.html.

Link to Commercial: https://youtu.be/0Uq6hLTB1KY