Distracted Driving

Drivers education is the most important tool in reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving, especially for new drivers. Simply knowing how to drive just isn’t enough to keep people safe on the road. Of course, it’s important to know how your car works, what road signs and traffic lights mean, but there is a lot more to driving than that. This is where the importance of educating drivers comes in. I know a lot of teens think they don’t need drivers training, because maybe their parents let them drive a little, they think it’s all common sense, or they just feel they’ll be fine. This is false. Everyone needs drivers ed to really understand the rules of the road. There are so many things to consider while driving, as well as considering what the outcome could be if you don’t follow the rules.

Knowing how to drive is just the beginning of being a good driver. There are so many variables at play when you are behind the wheel. The most obvious thing that can affect a persons driving ability is being under the influence. About 32% of motor vehicle accidents involve people who have been drinking or doing drugs. Many people think they can drive just fine after a few drinks, or think they aren’t affected by substances, and can drive themselves. They are wrong. It doesn’t take much to decrease your reaction time and your focus while driving. Teenagers need to understand this. Yes, you have to be 21 to have a beer, let’s be honest and realistic here, most teenagers have at least tried alcohol at one time or another.  Being a teenager, you think you are invincible. You are not. Adults should be smart enough to know when they need to call an Uber or phone a friend to pick them up, unfortunately teens are not. Teens need to not only never drive while under the influence, but not to ride with someone who is either. I’d rather take a friend’s keys, and have them angry at me,  then to look back and regret not saying something.

While driving under the influence is one of the leading causes of traffic accidents, it is not the biggest cause. The number one cause of traffic accidents is distracted driving. Distracted driving accounts for about 50% of traffic accidents in the United States. While there are many reasons a driver may be distracted, playing with the radio, fatigue, or even daydreaming, the number one contributor to distracted driving accidents is the cell phone. This is especially the case for teen drivers. For most teens, their phone is like a drug. When we hear that alert tone, letting us know a friend just sent us a message, it is nearly impossible for us not to look. We have grown used to being constantly connected to everyone through our phone.

I can think of a specific instance that affected me when it comes to teens and distracted driving. When I was 9 years old, I was a hockey goalie, still am, there was on older team that played out of the same rink that I did. I always saw them around the rink, and always wanted to be like them. Especially their goalie. His name was Mitchel Kiefer. I remember hearing about him being killed in a car accident, and I didn’t understand how he was just gone. He was hit by a distracted driver, and killed. There was a lot of awareness of distracted driving brought out at that time. I didn’t even understand what that was really. I do now, and I see his picture on display with his goalie pads and helmet every time I walk into that rink.

As a teenager it’s hard to know what to do when it comes to your peers. You don’t ever want to tell a friend not to do something, or how they should behave. When it comes to your friends being safe, and alive, you just need to stand up. I would rather have my friend not get back to me right away because they were driving and couldn’t respond.  I’d rather say something to a friend who is using their phone while they’re driving, or take their keys if they have been drinking, and have them tell me to chill or get mad at me. I’d rather do all of these things than have to attend their funeral.