The teenage years can be some of the most difficult times of one’s life and the process of learning to drive doesn’t make it any easier. With the advancements in technology distracted driving is becoming more common especially for high school students.
Students are surrounded by other students that are also new to driving and with how addicting technology is becoming, the challenge of staying focused has become no easy task. According to a research done on teen driving in Indiana, 186 teens died in a car accident due to distracted driving in 2020. Distracted driving can take many forms whether it is a simple distraction or a large distraction.
Hanging out with friends is a common pastime for teenagers, and getting a license provides a lot of freedom and more opportunities to hang out with friends.
“If I’m driving with my friends all of the chatter and noise can lead me to be unfocused on the road,” Junior Simeon Noel said.
Talking with your friends in the car is not the only way they can distract you though. If they text you or call you that can lead to not paying attention to the road and whats ahead of you.
“Getting messages from your friends is a big one, my friends are very connected so we are always talking and it can be a big distraction,” said junior Dominic Smith.
The phone has become one of the biggest distraction for drivers, especially new drivers who have grown up around the advancements in technology. The phone, being so accessible while driving, can cause many issues with driving.
Phone use while driving can look different for each driver. While some respond to text messages or notifications, others change their music.
“I change my music on my phone, if I want to listen to a specific song, I just grab my phone and search it up since my phone is easy to be on while I am driving,” said Sophomore Cole Dycus.
Although most drivers are not on their phones for long periods of time. Some drivers feel the need to get things done while they are driving.
“Ordering food is also something that distracts me, I’m always eating so whenever I go out I feel like I’m ordering food when I am driving,”, said Smith.
We can develop these bad habits ourselves, but most times we take after what we see, it is human nature to do so. Students feel that they have learned bad habits from other people that drive whether they mean to do so or not.
“I would say my dad’s a very distracted driver,” said Noel. “He watches YouTube videos while driving. He is a pretty good driver but often pays more attention to his phone then on the road at time.”
It is important that students try to lessen these bad distractions or at least do their best to limit them. There are several easy ways to fix it, the issue can be solved, it is up to us to do it.
“I can change the music with some of the buttons on my car, it is unnecessary to do it on my phone, but it is just second nature to grab my phone,” said Dycus. “I think if I can force myself to do it a few times I can break the bad habit of always trying to be on my phone.”
As long as we are able to hold each other accountable and have confidence that we can be better, and admit when we should be doing better, being distracted while driving won’t be as big of an issue as it is now.
“I believe that it is really important that we have some confidence in the youth and instill confidence. We have to help them when they need help and push them to be as good as possible,” said senior Charlie Strachota.
Having confidence in yourself and others around you on the road is important. The next time you catch yourself reaching for your phone and gazing off at something out the window, remember the possible consequences and the risk that comes with it.
