Distracted Driving Kills

It is not uncommon today for driving crashes to be in our daily evening news. Almost every day, there are reports and newspaper articles about drivers who were distracted or under the influence of something. Most of us have probably seen drivers swerving in their lanes or barely dodging a pedestrian because they are not focused. In fact, each day, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that “more than 15 people are killed and more than 1,200 people are injured in crashes that were reported to involve a distracted driver”. Some victims sustain minor injuries while others suffer from permanent damage, or possibly even die.
Drivers are putting those around them at risk when they whip out their phone and began to text while driving. The Tiger’s Roar talked with Kiera Gold ’15 about her opinions on multitasking while behind the wheel. “So many people think they can multitask,” Gold comments. “Sure, maybe with testing and homework, or texting and cleaning, but driving?! That’s crazy.” It is not uncommon for people our age to multitask on almost everything. The biggest problem with this issue is that the most serious offenders are us. WE are the ones who are most at risk. Yet many of us continue to assume that we can drive and text or talk simultaneously. Some kids and adults do get away with it, but there are many more that do not.
Distraction.gov is a website created by the U.S. government to address the problems of distracted driving in general. Ray Lahood, secretary of transportation, states that “any time you take your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel, and your mind off your primary task: driving safely”, distraction occurs, increasing your risk of crashing. “Some people still don’t know how dangerous distracted driving is. Others know about the risks of texting…while driving, but still most choose to do so anyway. They make the mistake of thinking…that they can defy the odds” (Distraction.gov). They incorrectly think that the statistics do not apply to them. The most surprising of all is that there are all sorts of distractions that may be experienced. Texting, calling, eating, drinking, fixing your makeup, reading, adjusting music players, you name it. These are all potential factors that can put your life at risk.
To ban texting and driving may sound like a reasonable action to take, but there may be difficulty enforcing such laws. To make texting while driving illegal will encourage drivers to hide their phones when they are texting instead of having it in front of them. This may make situations worse because some drivers will divert their eyes and attention to the phone instead of the road. In addition, it will be problematic for officers to know if someone was actually texting.
“One Text or Call Could Wreck It All.” This is the message the U.S. Department of Transportation when it reaches out to millions of Americans. It is likely that a TV ad appeared while watching a favorite show about the consequences of texting while driving. They include the disabled and injured victim of a car crash due to distracted driving along with the one, simple text message that completely flipped their world upside down. This is reality, people. The purpose of the ads is not to depress you or give your something to laugh about. The way that person is now could be how you will end up living the rest of your life. In fact, if the trend of texting while driving continues just to disprove this article, you are only playing with your life and those around you.
If you want to live your life to the fullest, then maybe that one text message does not need to be replied right away. Maybe it can wait until you have arrived at a resting place or your destination. Perhaps you won’t be involved in a fatal crash and film a texting while driving advertisement to make the public more aware. But that will depend on how you will deal with a ringing phone when your hands are on the wheel, your eyes focusing on the road. Stop the texts, stop the wrecks.