Driver’s Safety Essay

“This just in. There was a devastating accident that occurred on Highway 87 at approximately seven this morning. Thirty-seven-year-old Michael Cane, and eighteen year old Bella Foster, were drivers of separate vehicles which collided in the process of merging lanes. Both drivers are currently being transported to a hospital in critical condition. Our reporters on the scene tell us the cause was … distracted driving.”

Who was at fault? Were they texting, daydreaming, on social media, or looking away from the road? Distracted driving is defined as one’s attention being taken away from the road, commonly due to a hand-held device. Texting and driving is an abhorrent practice, and it is critical for drivers to understand that they are handling dangerous machines alongside humans and stray animals. Whether it was Michael, Bella, or both of them who were distracted, both are facing the consequences of distracted driving. Thousands of people are hurt or killed in road accidents each year and according to the CDC, approximately three thousand of those deaths are due to a distracted driver, and thousands more end up in critical condition. Though the above scenario is fictional, it is an accurate representation of the many accidents which happen annually.

The fact that anyone can be a victim of distracted driving, including even the safest of drivers, is a wake-up call for us to be more mindful behind the wheel. My mother, who is known for her safe driving habits, recently fell victim to a car accident caused by another distracted driver. This experience only reinforced the importance of being aware and preventing distracted driving. I’ve asked myself, “If it can happen to her, when will it happen to me?” My mother’s response was, “We can never know. However, we can and should prevent being the cause of one. By doing so, we’ve already saved another life.”

On the very first day that I began to drive, I kept my cell phone “out of sight and out of mind.” It was away and on mute. This was to reduce the temptation to check my phone for new texts. As my responsibilities grew, I realized it’s difficult to be rid of your phone completely, especially during long drives. If I couldn’t ignore my phone, I needed to drive with it safely. So, I started using Bluetooth technology.

Newer cars already have Bluetooth embedded in them as a preventive measure for texting and driving. However, for older cars, such as my own, there is an inexpensive solution. I invested in a $20 Bluetooth transmitter that connects my phone to my car, allowing me to use my phone hands-free. As an iPhone user, I am even able to use Siri to communicate verbally. It can read and send messages, and make calls with a simple verbal request. The great thing about the transmitter is that it can be transferred to any car you drive, allowing you to drive hands-free anytime. This has dramatically reduced my phone interactions while driving, and I can even pull over to a safe area if I need to physically use my phone. My practice has even received an approval rating from my ever-cautious mother!

What’s great about my preventive measures to avoid distracted driving is that they work well for extremely busy people attached to their phones. Now the new problem is, how do you communicate these solutions to a larger population of drivers? Ironically, the devices which typically initiate accidents can be used to prevent them. According to DataReporal, 77.8% of the adult population uses social media. It is a widely used tool with billions active for an average of 2.5 hours a day. With many people consistently on their phones, the message of distracting driving is far more likely to be effectively spread compared to alternative methods. Platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok reach billions of people every day, making it

a cost-efficient and effective way to communicate important messages. In fact, it was through TikTok that I learned about the Bluetooth transmitter I now use. Stories, such as my own, which are shared online are likely to influence the practices of those who view them. Slowly, more of my friends are using transmitters as well. Prioritizing road safety and disseminating the message widely are imperative. We all have a part to play in lowering the amount of distracted driving incidents, whether we’re utilizing social media or our personal networks.