The Loss of Freedom

There
is nothing more freeing than driving a car down an open road. No
destination, no one around, just you surrounded by endless
possibilities. This freedom can also be easily lost. Driving frees,
but one wrong move and it can restrain you for the rest of your life.
There is nothing less freeing than driving unsafely and being
arrested for it, or worse.

Technology
is one of the biggest causes of teen-related driving accidents. A
large percentage of American teenagers have a cell phone. Phones are
great inventions, they allow us to stay connected to people, keep up
to date on happenings in the world, and help us do work more
efficiently. Unfortunately, they are also very distracting, because
of this they cause many problems. Phone use while driving has to be
stopped in order to keep people safe on the roads.

There
are several things I can personally do to be a safer driver. First
of all, I can put my phone on drive mode which is a new feature on
the iPhone. This will prevent my phone from buzzing, which could
distract my focus while driving. Another thing I can do is have a
set location for my phone in my car where it will not tempt me to
pick it up while driving. If I am waiting for an important message
and will be driving for long periods of time that day, I can schedule
certain stops to check my phone. This would help me to not miss the
message as well as prevent me from checking my phone while driving.
These ideas can easily be put into effect in my own, or someone
else’s, life, and could even save it.

One
thing to help others become a safer driver is calling them out when
they are using their cellular device while driving. If I am a
passenger in the car while someone is driving irresponsibly, I can
express to them how unsafe it makes me feel. Of course, there is the
fear of coming off as rude, they are my friend and I do not want to
offend them. But it is much easier to ask them for forgiveness than
it is to get someone’s life back. Holding people accountable for
their unsafe driving habits will not only keep them and you safer but
also the fellow drivers around you.

These
are simple steps that can be taken to prevent tragic accidents from
happening. Do not let your freedom get taken away by something that
can be stopped. The more people who put down their phones while
driving, the safer the roads will be.