Distracted Driving’s Exhibit A: Me

           Imagine this: You have finished a whole day full of work and are ready to go home. However, before you can do that, you still need to go get the groceries. That will easily tack on another hour before you can go home and crash for the day. That coffee from six in the morning has long worn off and you are one blink away from falling asleep at the wheel. The distracted driving tendencies are at an all time high. What do you do? Or more so, what do I do? It is easy to fall into those bad distracted driving habits and sometimes they may feel as if they are too hard to break. However, there are several different alternatives to common bad practices that can make your driving a whole lot safer. For me, this was my guilty behavior and how I sought to fix it.

           Before, when my distracted driving tendencies were much higher, I put on music. There’s nothing wrong with this when done in regulation: especially when that upbeat song is keeping you awake. It became a problem for me because my playlist is a devious game of roulette.  One song will be death metal and the next, the softest and calmest ballad to ever be heard. When this happens, instinctively, I move to switch the song to something livelier. However, those few seconds of looking away from the road and instead onto the playlist on my phone are vital. With accidents happening in the blink of an eye, I need to be ready at any moment to react as quickly as possible. Those few seconds of switching songs can make all the difference.

           To fix this problem, I have transitioned from playlists to podcasts. I like to put on podcasts that last around two hours. By making this switch, I no longer need to divert my attention to my phone while driving because I will be home before I even finish one podcast. Moreover, I find a podcast that I genuinely enjoy listening to. By engaging in active listening, I am keeping my brain awake and alert while driving. I do not zone out while driving and cut down my reaction time in case something on the road happens. Personally, for me, I put on humorous podcasts. The silly and zany commentary keeps me laughing, entertained, and attentive in the comfort of my car. It is a nice alternative to music when I am too tired to talk but need to drive home.

           Another alternative to music is calling someone. If people in game shows can put their faith in a call-in for the grand money prize, so can we for driving home. Calling in the car works smoothly for me since my phone’s Bluetooth hooks up to the car’s speakers. This allows for hands-off phone use. Especially if it is a long drive home, I like to use this time to call a friend I may not have heard from in a while. It gives me time to catch up with what has been going on in their life and it prompts me to talk and be active in the conversation. Additionally, if I am tired while driving, having a person on the phone works as a safeguard. In the worst-case scenario that I start to doze off, my friend can be as loud as they want to wake me up. They can even tell me that I should just take a break, pull into the nearest parking lot, and take a power nap. For these instances, I recommend a designated car pillow and blanket that always remains in the car other than for the occasional wash.

           Overall, do not drive if you are afraid of falling asleep at the wheel. I am deficient in B12 in my blood and often find myself sluggish despite the number of hours of sleep I get. In those instances of sluggishness, I resort to these strategies: listen to an funny podcast to keep me up and laughing or phone a friend. If music is really your route of entertainment, make a playlist before getting into the car with all your favorite tracks on it. You will not be tempted to skip a song if they are all bangers. Everyone is different and struggles with their own bad distracted driving habits. I encourage everyone to take a moment and reflect on one’s habits. What changes could be made? What are alternatives to safer driving not just for yourself, but for everyone? A reflection only takes a few minutes yet can save thousands of dollars in avoided accidents and potentially lives.