In Your Hands, A tool or Weapon

Manuela Danso-Fordjour

“You have a weapon in your hands” … at that moment, all the excitement left me and I was filled with anxiety. My dad continued to speak “It’s the most clever and disguised man-made weapon. Cars kill more people than you think. So, don’t play around with driving and always be conscious of your environment.” Drivers Ed had taught me all of the information he was explaining, but sitting in the driver’s seat I understood the importance of all that I had learned. Fast forward to December 2019 on the way home from a baby shower, my friend was driving and was trying to focus on the football game on his phone as well. He often took breaks to get a look at his screen. At that moment, it wasn’t just a car ride, now the car felt like a weapon. Thinking quickly, I made him stop the car at a car rest, and ask to switch roles with him immediately because I valued both our lives. He agreed and he sat watching his game, as I got us safely home.

The problem with the new generation of drivers is that we think that we are great at multitasking. I ‘ve heard countless people say “oh it’s just a second, I’m replying to a message” or “I’m changing the music”. According to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, when replying or just looking at a text, a person takes their eyes off the road for 4.6 seconds. Those 4.6 seconds can be the difference between life and death. A driver’s reaction time is doubled when distracted and they’re 11 times more likely to miss the flashing light. It’s critical to learn the consequences of being distracted while driving. It’s the driver’s responsibility to abide by all laws and rules. The driver also should make sure that their attention is on the road at all times. The act of driving requires visual concentration, not only for you but for the others around you as well. You do not want to be the reason that someone doesn’t get home to their family.

There are very simple steps to prevent this from happening. Set up a playlist to play in the car before you leave. Text the people you need to before you start driving. If you need to let someone know a change of plans or about any delays. Quickly pull off to the side or a parking lot and let the person know. If you know you’re the distracted type; turn your ringer off and put your cell phone in a location that cannot be easily reached. By being a careful driver, you can save lives instead of taking them. In the end, you have an elaborate tool in your hands that can be a weapon, if not correctly used.