Distracted Driving

Driving us to Distraction, was interesting to read. I was unaware of the new technology of what might be to help prevent calling/texting while driving. It's a serious problem with today's teenagers especially. Social networking is a very big part in the lives of teenagers, as well as texting and talking on the phone. I, personally, know too many teens that have been in accidents and some not surviving because of distracted driving.

About a year ago, the number of teenagers dying on the roads was outrageous. At my high school, we had lyceums, presentations, and guest speakers come to talk to us about this deadly effect on teens. They showed us horrifying videos and shocking statistics of teens getting involved with distracted driving, thinking that nothing will happen to them because they know what they're doing since they've done it a thousand times before.

I think it's sad how addicted this generation is to texting, talking on the phone, Facebook and other social networking sites. It's part of their daily lives, but I am also a Facebook addict. I go on Facebook everyday when I wake up and before I go to sleep. I don't text as much as my friends. I have a select few who I text constantly and that's about it. To teenagers, Facebook is like the morning paper. You see what you missed out on the weekend or the night before.

I would never attempt to go on Facebook and drive at the same time. If I need to text or look at a text, I pull over. I've only done that two or three times though. I either turn my phone on silent when I get in the car, or put it in the passenger seat so I wouldn't even know if someone called or if I get a text. I think it's a great idea to have laws for this. It can easily be avoided, and it's a foolish way to get in an accident, get hurt, die, or get someone else hurt.

It'd be a terrible thing to live with if you were the driver and had killed someone or hurt your passenger. Driving is such a huge responsibility, especially when you have other people in your car. When I have passengers in my car, my eyes are glued to the road, because I am the one responsible for their lives when I'm behind the wheel.