Honk if you love Jesus…text while driving if you want to meet him

“Road safety is a state of mind, accident is an absence of mind.” Teenagers love to hit the road whether it is a quick trip to the grocery store or a late-night drive with their significant other. Unfortunately, nearly 390,000 injuries occur each year from accidents caused by texting while driving. There are several reasons why teenagers use their phones while driving. The sad truth about injuries and deaths caused by mobile usage is the fact that it could be easily prevented.

As a fellow teenager myself, some reasons why teenagers use their phone right after receiving a text while driving is due to lack of patience. There exists a huge need to reply without delay. Another reason teenagers use social media is due to traveling long distances or long hours. A great solution to this is listening to an informative podcast or listening to calming music that would not distract the driver. Teenagers these days love to film driving 100mph just to post it on Snapchat for viewers. This is not worth it because one wrong move can result in fatal injury or in most cases, death.

The best way to prevent accidents is to put your phone in silent mode or on do not to disturb it. If you consider yourself as someone with a lack of self-control, the best-suggested way is to simply put the phone in the backseat or inside the glove compartment. Out of sight, out of mind. Always every driver and passenger have one goal- to reach their destination. If you are a parent or have younger siblings, advise them of the dangers of drunk driving or using technology while driving. Using social media while driving is three times more dangerous than drunk driving.

If it is an emergency where an urgent phone call or text message should be made, always stop, and pull over. But if it is a random notification, it is not worth it to risk your life. Setting everything up such as setting the location on maps or choosing the preferred playlist before driving reduces the chance of getting into an accident.

Driving is a privilege, not a right. If you notice your teenager not following the rules, impose consequences such as taking away their phone while driving or confiscating their car keys till they have learned their lesson. If in case a ticket has been issued or involved in a minor accident due to their fault, have them pay for the insurance. This will teach them the perfect lesson as teenagers hate spending money on anything but food, shoes, clothes, etc.

Cell phones can be considered a tool or a weapon. There are several free apps such as Drive Safe, HUM, Drivemode, LifeSaver, etc that can automatically sense when you are driving and activate to block notifications. These apps save millions of lives and would be highly encouraged if you are looking forward to making a change in your driving habits.

If you are a passenger and see the driver using their phone, use the direct approach method where you politely communicate to them. Something as simple as, “Hey, I am sorry, but I am not comfortable/not feeling safe when the driver uses their technology” works incredibly. If the driver refuses to accept your opinion, have the driver pull over and get out of the car.

Driver’s education is crucial because young drivers who have not completed their driver’s education are 75 percent more likely to get a traffic ticket. One is more aware of the laws and regulations while attending an educational class. This avoids confusion mid-driving that could have led to potential road accidents. There have been several occasions when I could have potentially met with road accidents due to the driver’s fault. Whenever I am the passenger or the driver, I make sure the environment is not distracting and make sure to put my full concentration on driving only.

Making a new habit can be challenging, but always worth it. Being consistent and believing in yourself creates wonders. So, the next time you sit in your car seat, remember to stick a sticky note reminding you not to text and drive. Always remember, “Driving safely is a trick. Getting home is a treat. Buckle up and drive safely.” You have your family and friends waiting for you. And most importantly, you do not want your dog or cat sitting by the windowsill to wonder where you are.