Distracted Driving

Distracted driving – it’s the number one cause of car accidents around the world. As much as 25% of all car accidents are caused by texting and driving. Such strict laws against people using their phones while driving exist, so why is this still such a huge issue? People tend to be aware of the literal life-or-death consequences but continue to have the raging urge to check their phones while driving – why?

Perhaps we aren’t doing enough to prevent this issue. It is imperative positive examples are set for both passengers and drivers. If a text urgently needs to be sent, it is safer to have a passenger send it for you, or for you to pull over to do so. For example, when I’m in the car with one of my parents, and they need to send a text, they’ll have me type it out and send it for them.

Speaking up when you notice someone else texting and driving is also important. Friends have a strong influence on each other. All drivers must understand the risk at which they are putting themselves and their passengers when they do so.

In addition, when one is not giving their full attention to the road while driving, they’re also putting drivers of other vehicles and pedestrians in danger. Statistics indicate that 20% of people killed due to a car accident weren’t even inside a vehicle when the accident occurred.

In 2018 alone, approximately 400,000 people were injured, 2, and 841 were killed due to distracted driving; 1,730 drivers, 605 passengers, 400 pedestrians, and 77 bicyclists. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). This being noted the laws against texting and driving aren’t doing enough to prevent drivers from doing so.

The iPhone popup feature, confirming “I’m not driving” is intended to reduce the number of text messages sent while one is driving. However, many people, including myself before, inaccurately confirmed on the notification that they were not driving while they were behind the wheel. The system is too easy to deceive and too many drivers are still looking past this risk. Something more effective is needed to discourage them from checking their phones while driving.

My potential solution to help prevent texting and driving would be to strengthen the laws against it. This being, if someone were caught by a police officer for using their phone while driving the first time, they would be charged with the current New Hampshire law, which is a fine of $100. My solution for strengthening the law activates when a second violation is committed. With the second infraction, their phone would be deactivated completely, with the exception of emergency services, while moving 30MPH or greater, for 30 days.

Although with this ramification people may not have a decreased desire to check their phones while behind the wheel, the significance of the consequence may dissuade them from doing so. With this law reinforcement, even if someone were a passenger, who had been convicted for a second time texting and driving, would lose their right to use their phone while in a moving vehicle for those following 30 days. They would either have to ask the driver to pull over or use someone else’s phone.

This punishment would also help send a message to other drivers. If the person who received this consequence needed to send a text while riding as a passenger, and had to ask the driver to pull over, it would also demonstrate to the driver the aftermath being faced, due to their decision to text and drive. This will potentially encourage others to avoid the usage of using their phone while driving.

Too many people feel they are at minimal risk for texting while driving and are confident they have enough control to avoid an accident. However, nobody plans on getting into an accident. The human brain isn’t able to multitask on two subjects at the same time, especially if one is safety-related, and still maintains accuracy.

The danger of texting while driving is not embraced by enough drivers. If several thousands of people have lost their lives due to this mistake, and the mistake continues, we need to implement a new strategy to address it.

Citations:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury

Prevention and Control. “Distracted Driving.” Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention, 4 Dec. 2020, www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/

distracted_driving/index.html. Accessed 21 Mar. 2021.

“Distracted Driving.” NHTSA, www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving.

Accessed 21 Mar. 2021.

Tefft, Brian. “Rates of Motor Vehicle Crashes, Injuries and Deaths in Relation

to Driver Age, United States, 2014-2015.” AAA Foundation for Traffic

Safety, June 2017, aaafoundation.org/

rates-motor-vehicle-crashes-injuries-deaths-relation-driver-age-united-states-201

4-2015/. Accessed 21 Mar. 2021.