Driving Plan, Protect Friends and Family on the Road

Driving Plan, Protect Friends and Family on the Road

I reflected on this topic, and in my opinion, the best way to reduce the total number of deaths caused by driving, in a reliable and reasonable way, is by setting sensible standards for yourself and those around you and agreeing to a personalized plan everyone can follow.

Sadly, learned behaviors, inexperienced drivers, and driving with a cell phone all contribute to negative driving experiences. Parents who drive distracted are not only putting themselves and others at risk but also setting a bad example for their children. Parents can teach their children to stay off their phones while driving by being a good role model and setting a good example. Telling their children to stay off the phone, but using their phone while driving does not send the right message. Since teens are less experienced drivers, they can be more prone to accidents; adding a phone while driving adds another layer of distraction, which can lead to more accidents.

I have had direct experience with an irresponsible driver. I was out driving with my friends, stopped at an intersection, when all of a sudden, the car lurched forward. The driver behind me had been texting, did not see the light was red and drove right into my car. Luckily, no one was injured, but there was significant damage to my bumper. My friends and I were a little troubled by the whole incident, which inspired us to think about ways we could be safer drivers.

One of the solutions was to help my family and friends drive more responsibly, by creating a Distracted Driving Friends and Family Plan that everyone can agree to follow. This plan outlines some guidelines that can help us all to be safer on the road.

1. Do not use your phone in any way while driving, including texting and phone calls.

2. Wait to text or call others until they have stopped driving and stop texting if you learn that the person you are texting is driving.

3. Pull over to a safe location or wait to eat or reach for things that are not within your grasp until you finish driving.

4. Adjust the mirrors, your seat, and dashboard settings before starting to drive.

5. If you are drowsy or in a highly emotional state, pull over and take a break.

6. Do not argue with passengers or others on the road (road rage).

7. If you find yourself getting lost in thought, have a plan you can use to bring your attention back to the road, such as reading the license plate in front of you, making sure not to stare.

8. If you notice your driver is getting distracted, tell them to focus and offer to help if necessary, for example, take over driving to give them a break.