“Wheel” of Approval

“Wheel” of Approval

Transportation has come a long way since the horse and carriage back in the 1700s. These days, one could buy a car that practically drives on its own. With all of the new gadgets and gizmos such as rearview cameras and lane centering correction, it is a wonder that anyone even learns how to drive properly. But as the automobile advances in its intelligence, it seems as if today’s generation of operators have taken to a hands-free approach as they navigate the open road. Sure, we may have taken the required fifty-question permit test and sat through the thirty-minute driving test, but does that adequately prepare us for dangerous driving situations? Preventing distracted driving is a small step in the right direction to achieve safer roads and fewer life-altering accidents. 

As a student-driver myself, I remember the thirty-second videos of a staggering teenager as they exit a party and get behind the wheel. Blurred vision, delayed reaction time, and loud music were always associated with the drunk driver. However, distracted driving is not always as obvious as stepping behind the wheel inebriated. In fact, I believe this generation of drivers is more susceptible to the subtle temptations that sneak in here and there that lead to devastating results. Something as innocent as a notification or many notifications can be the leading cause of distracted driving. Checking up on how many likes one’s most recent Instagram post has received, scrolling through emails, or even skipping an advertisement as it continues to interrupt a jammin’ playlist. Averting one’s eyes for even a second can be enough cause for a collision course. 

These minuscule actions can become habitual and if gone unchecked, can lead to longer distraction times. To eliminate unsafe driving habits, cutting distractions out from the source could greatly decrease the temptation to look away from the road. Something as quick as turning on “Do Not Disturb” or silencing one’s cell phone could allow people to focus all of their attention on creating a safer driving community. But even those actions are hard to convince people of. The only true way to persuade people to put down the phone is to bring awareness to the dangers and consequences of distracted driving. Instead of placing teenagers in front of a screen to watch a one-minute video on drunken driving, teens should be exposed to real-life stories of people who have experienced the effects of distracted driving firsthand or secondhand. Being exposed to the harsh realities of unsafe driving is pivotal to put an end to distracted driving and hopefully preventing future drivers from falling victim to its dangers. 

Unfortunately, distracted driving has permeated society to the point where it has become the new “normal” to quickly shoot off a text or like a post whilst behind the wheel. I have seen firsthand, friends and family members use his or her phone while driving, and it is terrifying, to say the least. A short glance has caused some of them to swerve into the other lane or run a red light. While none of these actions have caused an accident, I find it to be even more dangerous than if it had. These near-misses only increase confidence in unsafe driving habits. One might think, “Checking my phone once wasn’t so bad. No one was hurt; in fact, it didn’t even affect my driving abilities.” And as the confidence grows, so does the temptation to keep pushing the boundaries of safe driving. There is no room for small allowances here and there because eventually, they will be the leading cause of a lifelong mistake that never really goes away. 

As a driver myself, it is my responsibility to practice safe driving habits and set an example for every passenger that rides in my vehicle. What may be a quick glance, shuffling around for loose change, or any type of distracted driving to me, may leave a lasting impact on whomever I am driving. It is never okay to endanger the lives of others due to one’s own lack of discipline while driving. And even if I am not behind the wheel, I can still play a role in the driving habits of the people around me. Holding people accountable for their mindless mistakes could be the time that a life is saved on the road. Offering to answer the text message for them, navigating so they do not have to worry about looking at a screen for help, or even suggesting pulling over if a situation requires immediate attention could be the difference between life and death. And yet so many fail to take action. To continue using cars as a convenient mode of transportation, it is our responsibility to make the roads a safer place. It is time for drivers of all ages and all experience levels to cooperate on the road to foster a safer driving community.