Prevent distracted driving

Prevent Distracted Driving

Overview of Distracted Driving

Distracted driving involves any action that diverts the divers’ attention. It has now become a national epidemic since it is accountable for multiple lives lost on the road. In the car, there are CDs, glove boxes, radio, food, cellphones, etc.; while outside, there are pedestrians, billboards, animals, and all kinds of activities that can cause distractions. Even tinted windows can be a distraction. The list of distractions goes on and on. The habit of eating while driving is a double whammy, in my opinion since it causes drivers to be distracted psychologically and physically. We often see people use their mobile phones while driving; we do it ourselves, yet we don’t understand the consequences of distracted driving. Texting is one of the worst driving distractions since it usually requires your hands, eyes, and attention. Reading maps or GPS for directions will also need the driver’s eyes and thoughts. Distracted driving tends to have higher economic, personal, and societal costs. This paper discusses preventive measures for distracted driving.

Eliminating Distracted Driving

Millions of car crashes in America are caused by distracted driving. Risks formed by distracted driving usually affect passengers, other road users, and drivers themselves. I have never been a statistic of distracted driving, but someone close to me has; his story touched me and I promised that I wouldn’t fall victim. He thought he had perfected the art of distracted driving, but he hadn’t. One day, he left the gym and drove home on a super familiar route. He thought viewing texts and missed calls was a great idea at the time since the distance to home was a five-minute drive. Left hand on the steering, cell phone on his lap while the right hand scrolled the screen. So, he experienced divided attention between the road and the cell phone. Suddenly, he blew through a dead solid red light and was t-boned to his side by a semi-tractor trailer unit. Twenty-one years old, five minutes from home, got hit by a semi-truck. He was rushed to the hospital and placed in an intensive care unit with a ninety percent chance of surviving. The doctors proposed that if he could recover, he would not walk. Six months down the line, he woke up to a brutal reality and could not remember what happened. He was diagnosed with traumatic brain injury since he could talk, eat, and focus on anything. Phone use while driving almost ended his life. Since then, I have tried to come up with ways that mitigate this problem, and here are some ways of cutting down distracted driving:

1. Hazard awareness

NHTSA is nationally on the front line battling against distracted driving by creating awareness of these dangers. It has merged with the local police and states to enact laws against distracted driving to keep American citizens safe. Furthermore, most states have implemented rules to reduce distracted driving, including hand-free laws, limiting the number of young adults who can drive, and banning texting while driving.

2. Hazard mitigation

Young adult novice drivers are the most likely drivers to encounter distracted driving and suffer its consequences. Long before kids start learning to drive, adults’ driving behavior and attitudes create a subterranean impression, such as using mobile phones while behind the wheels. Teenagers tend to operate secondary tasks while driving. The in-vehicle warnings intervention can shape teens’ driving behaviors, such as smoother braking/acceleration or maintaining lanes. Furthermore, parent’s involvement during driving often adds a vital attribute to young adults. They should portray a good example to their young ones by avoiding other tasks during driving exercise. It usually contributes to the educational intervention approach to teenagers as it improves the diversity and quality of driving practice.

3. Attention maintenance

Drivers should embrace strict discipline while driving, such as silencing mobile phones to avoid distractions. Responsibility starts with the individual. The road requires full attention.

Conclusion

In summary, this paper represents the primary steps in preventing distracted driving. Cell phones distracted driving is one of the significant contributors to the car crash. Texting is one of the worst driving distractions since it usually requires your hands, eyes, and attention. Youths have the habit of using their mobile phones while behind the wheel. Parents should portray a good example to their young ones by avoiding other tasks during driving exercise. Government should create awareness of the dangers of distracted driving. However, government efforts alone might not solve all these problems at once; hence, the general public needs to cooperate to help reduce distractions on the roads.