Choosing the Right Road

“Mom, put down your phone,” I say for the third time.

“I was just texting your brother,” she replies.

“That’s not an excuse. I don’t know what you were messaging about, but it’s not worth the risk.”

“Do you know how long I’ve been driving?” she asks, heated. I know better than to answer her question. “Way longer than you, and, you know what, I’ve done just fine so far.”

“But Mom, all it takes is one moment, one second with your eyes off the road for something bad to happen.”

“How about you just worry about yourself and let me be the parent?” she retorts. Blood rushes to my cheeks, and I stare at my shoes. I know the conversation is not going to progress from here.

I may not be able to control my mother’s actions, but I can control my own. As a young driver, I have the responsibility to drive carefully and the power to make my own decisions. When I get in my car, I put my phone out of sight, click my seatbelt on, and adjust my mirrors. If I have passengers, I also make sure they are safely strapped-in. On the road, I can’t be distracted by whining siblings, flashy billboards, or fiddling with the air conditioner. Occasionally, I have to remind myself that I always have the option to pull over. It is so much better to take a three-minute pit stop to fix something than it is to risk lives. Applying makeup, eating a sandwich, checking Facebook- it can all wait until the car is in park. If there is something urgent, it is wise to pull off the road.

Most people know that driving distracted is dangerous, but they may not be aware of how dangerous it is. It is easy to ignore the risk until an accident occurs. If people knew the statistics of crashes caused by drunk driving, texting while driving, or simply recklessness, they may be more inclined to drive safely. For some, statistics might not be convincing. Perhaps personal stories might be a better motivator. Last year, my school hosted a guest speaker to promote safe driving. She spoke to the student body about her family’s grief after a distracted driver, shopping on her self phone, struck and killed her husband. For my peers and I, this had a greater impact than solely knowing the numbers.

To reduce dangerous driving, education and societal change is necessary. First, people need to know the frequency of accidents and deaths caused by reckless driving. Part of this education should include testimonies to make the statistics tangible. Then, people must decide for themselves to make better choices. Just because their parents or friends take careless risks does not mean that they should. They have the power to choose better. If more people can put their phones down, find a ride home, and keep distractions at bay, we can have safer roads for everyone.