Two “near-miss” driving moments have stayed with me years later. The first occurred when I was ten. My dad, evidently somber, called to inform us about how in a moment of distraction, his car skidded, and ran up onto the curb. Removing the car from the curb would require professional help. I always thought my dad was a good driver. He never checked his phone or fiddled with Spotify. Except that day,he was distracted by thoughts of work. A moment of distraction made him drive off-lane. Thankfully, he did not run into another car. We were quiet at home that day, realizing how bad this could have been. It was clear as day, that driving was a serious responsibility, and even the least visible distractions can have consequences.

Years later, at driving practice, I followed the same pattern. I was seventeen, and anxious about getting my drivers license. I made a show of powering off my phone, to indicate that I had in fact taken the driver’s knowledge test and knew how to avoid distractors. As I drove with my instructor, a number of other thoughts called on my attention: assignments, college applications, and the works. Driving practice was yet another item on the checklist, for me to get enough practice hours to qualify for the test. Then, right as we drove a few miles on the main road, I nearly ran a red light. It was a busy road, and if my driving instructor had not stopped me early with her brake, the consequences could have been severe. This time, I realized something about the very nature of driving, and the patterns of driving that both my dad and I had showcased. Yes, countless drivers learning modules remind students that driving is a big responsibility, but many drivers do not see it as such. Instead, driving becomes a mundane activity, and the responsibility of being a driver fades into the background. 

This is a significant issue. Whether people are obviously distracted by phones or less obviously lost in thought, the problem is the same. Distracted driving is really about irresponsibility.

This fact is not limited to age groups. While teenage drivers are the ones who are most often distracted, owing to the prevalence of risky activity at that age, adults are the group most likely to face death due to distracted driving (NHTSA). This is because adults usually have work and responsibilities that cause them to drive more often than teenagers, and driving becomes a second-nature activity, which decreases their cognizance of driver responsibility and distractions (NHTSA). Moreover, teenagers whose parents drive while distracted, are more likely to do so themselves (NHTSA). 

These facts, and the importance of driver responsibility, point to the idea that both teenage and adult drivers must be united under an umbrella of responsibility. 

In my own life, I have taken measures to work with my dad while driving. We both have a tendency to get lost in thought, so instead, we keep each other accountable. On our first practice ride, we verbalized signals and important road considerations about five hundred feet early. This was not limited to lights and stop signs, but also, roundabouts, bumps, or abandoned pedestrian walkways. We acted appropriately even when there were no pedestrians or other cars. This was to facilitate the basics of responsibility while driving, and ensure that it was not just driving which became second nature, but responsible driving. 

I believe that standardizing this practice would be a good way to instill driver responsibility. When schools are promoting driving practice, they should hold conferences with both students and parents. Parents should be encouraged to observe their own driving practices, and take account of the example they set for their children. A practical way to ensure that both adults and teenagers are aware of their driving practices, especially in a manner that prompts positive parent-child co-influence, would be to have a pledge checklist before driving. This pledge checklist would include which common mistakes to avoid, and common signs which students and parents should verbalize and follow appropriately, even if road conditions do not “require” it. The parent and child would reflect on the checklist post practice, and identify if they followed it accurately, to give themselves driver responsibility scores, according to how many items they followed. In this way, students and parents can stay aware of their improvement with regard to driver responsibility, while practicing for the driving exam. As such, the practice hours are not just just another milestone, but rather, an important learning process of responsibility. 

In order to ensure that the checklist system was honored, driving exam conductors should also take note of students’ awareness by having them take routes that require maximum attention to various road realities and signs. This is especially important, since many students do not take road tests with a standardized level of difficulty and attention required. Further, apps such as Maps can partner with federal and local driver safety bodies to include sound signals ahead of important road signs and conditions that the driver should be aware of. Individuals who have already been part of minor accidents (which often indicates future irresponsible behavior), should be mandated to install driver tracking systems, which recognize and make note of distracted driving behaviors, such as phone glances and inattention to the road. These systems will also give drivers responsibility scores, so they can understand their frequent problem areas. Through these measures, driver responsibility can be instilled in up and coming drivers, while serving as a reminder to their parents, and drivers with minor offenses can course correct before more disastrous consequences occur. 

If anything, I have learned that distracted driving is often due to mistakes that happen in a split second. However, the responsibility patterns that inform those mistakes are equally important to consider. I believe that improved educational and correctional practices are an important step in instilling responsible behavior within drivers, which allows them to course-correct and take their responsibility seriously.