In today’s world, I take my commitment to not texting while driving very seriously. As a parent of two teenage girls, one of whom recently got her driver’s permit, I feel a strong obligation to set a positive example for safe driving habits. If I absolutely must send or read a text, I pull over to a safe spot first or ask my kids to assist me.
However, I’ve come to recognize that I have other habits that also qualify as distracted driving. For instance, I often find myself changing my Spotify playlist at red lights, munching on snacks, or sipping coffee while behind the wheel. I’m frequently reaching back to hand things to my daughters or glancing at them through the rearview mirror as they engage in their typical backseat shenanigans. If distracted driving is a significant issue (and we know it is), then parents might be some of the worst offenders—even without a phone in hand.
Recently, my home state of Oregon implemented a strict new distracted driving law that has stirred up some controversy. This law prohibits nearly all use of handheld devices while driving, which seems like a straightforward precaution to me. Observational data has revealed that about 1 in 10 drivers are using handheld devices at any moment, highlighting the necessity for such regulations. Interestingly, you can still use your phone for navigation if it’s mounted on the dashboard, but you’re not allowed to hold it—even when stopped at a red light.
The law also categorizes eating and drinking as a “secondary offense,” meaning you won’t be pulled over just for munching on a snack, but if you’re stopped for another reason, you could receive a citation for it. Some people think these regulations go too far and infringe on personal freedoms, but I believe that my rights should never come at the expense of someone else’s safety. If I drop my burger and take my eyes off the road to clean up the mess, that moment of distraction could lead to a serious accident. Eating while driving may not always seem hazardous, but its potential for distraction is undeniable.
Distracted driving can have fatal consequences. In 2015 alone, over 3,400 lives were lost in car crashes linked to distracted drivers, many of which were likely caused by cellphone use. Texting can divert attention from the road for an average of five seconds, a duration that, at highway speeds, is equivalent to driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed. That’s downright alarming!
While teens are often seen as the primary demographic for texting while driving, I’ve noticed plenty of adults my age also distracted by their phones. This problem isn’t exclusive to the younger generation.
Ultimately, driving is one of the most dangerous activities we engage in regularly, even without extra distractions. Accidents can occur in a split second, and many of us mistakenly feel safe while driving on slower residential streets or open highways. Consider this: if two vehicles traveling at 20 miles per hour collide head-on, the impact is comparable to crashing into a wall at 40 miles per hour. Such scenarios can easily unfold right in our neighborhoods. Conversely, the steady pace on highways can create a false sense of security, causing us to overlook the fact that even minor crashes at high speeds can be devastating.
No one enters a vehicle thinking they’ll be involved in an accident. Many believe they can safely glance at their phone for a moment to check a text or skip a song on their playlist. But it only takes a second for that moment to stretch into several. Regardless of your driving skills, you can’t predict what other road users will do. You can’t foresee a child or animal darting in front of your car or a vehicle suddenly slamming on its brakes.
Driving, especially with kids, presents enough inherent distractions already. To ensure everyone’s safety, let’s keep our focus on the road and save our phone use and other distractions for later. The risks just aren’t worth it.
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In summary, distracted driving poses a serious threat to everyone on the road, and it goes beyond just texting. Parents often engage in behaviors that divert their attention from driving. New laws aim to curb these distractions, but it’s up to each driver to prioritize safety. The temptation to multitask while driving can lead to tragic consequences, so let’s commit to keeping our focus where it belongs—on the road.
Keyphrase: Distracted driving risks
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