Twelve years ago, just when distracted driving started to become a mainstream focus, my family and I were in a terrible car accident.  It was a beautiful afternoon, with perfect weather.  My mom, siblings and I were headed home from daycare, taking the road home that we always do. Out of nowhere a distracted driver hit our mini-van, slamming into the side, causing us to flip and slide into a nearby tree. All of the airbags deployed, the windows were shattered and pieces of the car were scattered across the road. The whole thing took less than five seconds.  Thankfully we came out alive; concussed, cut, bruised, and swollen, but alive. 

          In the days following the accident, we learned that the driver who hit us was texting and driving.  She was on her way home from work, and got a message from her daughter.  She chose to respond to that message, even though she was behind the wheel of her car.  She ran a stop sign, and hit us going at least 40 miles an hour. She was ticketed for running the stop sign but they dropped the cell phone charge in exchange for her pleading guilty to the stop sign charge.  And there it was.  For all of the damage she caused, to us and to the mini-van, she was issued a ticket.  Just a ticket with a $250 fine. It seemed like the lives of my family and I were only worth $250 at that time.

           Although the laws have changed, and have become more prominent for distracted drivers, people still drive while distracted. Even with increased penalties and fines, the need for immediate gratification still seems more important than the lives of those who are put in jeopardy, like my family's. Distracted driving is an incredibly important topic to discuss with today's generation, mainly because of their prevalent use of technology on an almost constant basis.  For many, it is almost an addiction. Making the issue more complex, tech companies have made technology more user-friendly and accessible at all times.   Using technology while driving has become easier, with phones, smart watches, and Carplay. It is almost impossible to even purchase a newer car without these features. It seems like the vehicle manufacturers are trying to make being distracted easier! 

          While it may be that  we can’t control people's reckless decisions, we can take measures to prevent them from making those decisions without at least considering the consequences. That is why driver education is so important.  If anything, it makes teens (and any new driver) aware of the risks and consequences of driving while distracted. Informing younger generations about the dangers of texting and driving can be an effective preventive measure. We know this because it worked with previous generations; highlighting the importance of wearing seatbelts and the dangers of drinking while driving.  Both the seatbelt issue and the drinking issue were considerable concerns at one point, until driver education courses targeted the problem during driver preparation courses.  We need to do the same thing with distracted driving.  By educating new drivers we can prevent many accidents and deaths caused by poor choices such as this.

          Enforcing stricter laws is another way to make people rethink before they choose to drive distracted.There should be no ‘warning’ from authorities for a first offense.  No plea deals that allow distracted drivers to skirt responsibility for their decision.  It only takes on time for an accident to happen-so why give a distracted driver another opportunity to make the same mistake? 

Another way to prevent distracted drivers is by having insurance discounts. Some insurance companies have created apps that track the use of drivers' phones while being on the road. The apps track things such as speed and cell phone use. Based on the driver's phone use while driving, or their lack of phone use, they take off certain amounts from insurance.  Insurance is very high and many people would appreciate the discount.  This might motivate them to make better choices about driving while distracted.

          As an individual, I can help prevent distracted driving by being a role model to my peers.  I can lead by example when I am driving.  Also, when I am a passenger in someone else’s car, I can remind them that distracted driving is not okay.  I can refuse to ride with someone who texts while driving.  I can also be aware of when I send texts to others.  If I know someone is driving somewhere, I can hold off on sending them a text message until it is likely that they have arrived at their destination. 

          Due to my personal experience, I feel that I am uniquely qualified to comment on the perils of distracted driving. While it is upsetting to me on a personal level that the person who almost killed myself and my family did not face any serious consequences, I am glad that the laws have started to change and have been made stricter. Unfortunately, it takes accidents like the one I was in, to open people's eyes to the dangers of texting and driving. My perspective is that education is the most important component. While penalties for distracted driving are good they are also too late if an accident does occur. Hopefully stories like mine contribute to that education.