One Fine Sunday I Was Driving to Town

“I was commuting to town one fine Sunday, wanting to get some provisions for the coming week. As I was listening to cool music and driving at around 40mph, I saw a car abruptly swerve straight into my path. I'll never forget how my heart pounded as it had never raced before. In an instant, I swerved to the right, landing in a shallow ditch on the opposite side of the lane. Fortunately, neither we nor our cars were harmed, but the true culprit, an ongoing call, was to blame.“How likely are you to find yourself in such a scary situation? Unfortunately, it can happen more likely than you thought. Latest data on cell phone usage while driving shows that 1.6 million crashes are caused by this habit each year. Out of these, over 3000 people have perished annually since 2012 in crashes caused by phone distraction, (Snyder, Attorney). For those left abruptly by their loved ones, there is no comfort in such statistics.”

“For a survivor like myself, I know how close it is for your life to end in a mangled wreck. Although all of us will ultimately die, a death that is abrupt, unanticipated and traumatic in nature especially resulting from a crash is not attractive. Such deaths bring endless sorrow and numerous challenges at individual, family and public levels (Bradach, Kristin McClenahan, and John R. Jordan). No one deserves to lose their life in this manner.”

“How then do you explain to someone that their loved one was in an accident and died because of a mobile phone? Or how do you tell a child that their parent crashed now have serious life-threatening injuries because of manipulating a phone? It is hard to confront such issues but it is a necessary discussion nevertheless.”

“Cell phone usage while driving makes drivers have less ability to manage their vehicles. Although some people can manage to multitask without causing any danger, they are a minority. During rush hours, this can portend real danger as the driver has to divide attention between the vehicle and the conversation. Many times people receive calls they cannot afford to ignore. If such a driver were to receive depressing news, the likelihood of an accident occurring is very high, ("How Emotions Affect Driving | DMV.Org"). This is not all, pedestrians are also a risk while driving and one needs to be keen all the time.”

“Driving and using the phone are very different activities. As such, it is very easy to make unforced errors when we try to mix the two. As good citizens, our actions count a lot in preventing controllable accidents.”

“Research shows that if we pay attention to rules that control road usage, driving is unlikely to be a risk hazard for all road users.”

“We often find it easy to text, chat with, call or even stream live to people that we know are on the road. This makes us part of the problem. From my experience, I know condoning such is a crazy risk. We can imagine that whoever is driving is a hero and that excitement rush we get while in touch, an insulator against danger. What we need is to snap out of that and think about reality.”

“I know all of us want to be part of the solution. Let us be honest with ourselves and acknowledge reality and strive to stay safe while driving, we only live once in this world.”

"Through road discipline, we can reduce the horror of road carnage. We may not stop accidents completely but we can help our fellow citizens stay safe with us. For drivers, it means stopping in designated places and then calling back in the case of a missed call. For friends, siblings, and lovers, it means giving time to those driving ample time to reach their destinations safely. For law enforcement, it means being keen to sensitize the nation, arrest and prosecute those who cause accidents through the use of such devices while driving.”

“Good roads, an efficient road monitoring system, as well as a strict licensing regime for new drivers, are some of the positives that we have as a nation. We know that as technology advances, more safe ways to respond to phones without being overly disturbed are coming up”

"The risk of getting maimed or losing a life on the road is evidently a motivator for us to embrace safety measures while on the road.”

“Now, it is pointless to imagine this problem will disappear just because we are not doing anything. Given that most of these safety precautions are already in place, I am at peace. Let us ensure we observe these rules, share information on the same widely and also support law enforcement whenever we have reason to believe there is a dangerous situation on the road.”

“In 14 states, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association, it is illegal for all drivers to use a hand-held phone while driving ("| GHSA"). 46 states have banned texting while on the road. This information is replicated on the National Conference of State Legislature website ("Cellular Phone Use And Texting While Driving Laws")”

We all understand the relationship between careless behavior and accidents. Before we blame anyone else, it is prudent to focus on the actions leading to a mishap. What was the driver doing? Was he texting or calling anyone at the time?”

"Having knowledge is powerful. When shared, it ripples outward embracing many changes occur. Destructive behaviors are broken, new ones forged and shifts in attitude made. As true compatriots, we should not leave anyone to walk alone."

“We may not stop all driving and texting accidents but we can do that within our power. Spread knowledge and be proactive. Do it for those alive, who have died or are maimed from this, not another day but now! I invite all of you to be vigilant, ready to help and always take precaution while on the road.”

Works Cited

Bradach, Kristin McClenahan, and John R. Jordan. "Long-Term Effects Of A Family History Of Traumatic Death On Adolescent Individuation". Routledge, 1995, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07481189508252736.

"Cell Phone Crash Data". Nsc.Org, 2017, http://www.nsc.org/learn/NSC-Initiatives/Pages/priorities-cell-phone-crash-data.aspx.

"| GHSA". Ghsa.Org, 2016, http://www.ghsa.org/state-laws/issues/Distracted-Driving.

"How Emotions Affect Driving | DMV.Org". DMV.Org, 2017, http://www.dmv.org/how-to-guides/driving-and-emotions.php.

Snyder, Attorney. "Texting And Driving Accident Statistics - Distracted Driving". Edgarsnyder.Com, 2017, https://www.edgarsnyder.com/car-accident/cause-of-accident/cell-phone/cell-phone-statistics.html.

"Cellular Phone Use And Texting While Driving Laws". Ncsl.Org, 2016, http://www.ncsl.org/research/transportation/cellular-phone-use-and-texting-while-driving-laws.aspx.