The Dangers of Texting and Driving by Haley

The Dangers of Texting and Driving by Haley - March 2017 Scholarship Essay

An important topic I would want a school wide audience to know more about is the dangers of texting while driving. In only the split second it takes for your attention to switch from the road to your phone, you become less aware of your surroundings. If your eyes are off the road for more than five seconds while driving at a rate of 60 miles per hour then you have essentially driven blind for 120 yards. These actions can and often do result in an accident occurring. It’s facts like these that opens one’s eyes to the dangers that texting while driving can cause. Many know it is not a safe act to practice; however, they may not understand how truly risky it is.
The last text conversation I had while driving was when I asked my dad if he wanted me to stop by after I was done tutoring. I’m not sure why I felt the urge to take the risk in order to send a simple message that could have waited, maybe I was just being impatient. I only sent that one text; however, it would have been a wise choice to send the message, “Want me to stop by after tutoring” once I had parked. The importance of sending that message isn’t comparable to the risk I took to send it. There is nothing more valuable than a life and a simple text message should never come between that. Taking into consideration that performing such an action could put not only my life, but the pedestrians walking and other drivers at risk as well, was foolish of me to do so.
Young college students often unintentionally take their safety for granted. Unfortunately, for a lot of people there must be negative repercussions due to their actions for a habit to alter their behavior. However, by that time it could be too late. This constant need for instant gratification coincides with the New Media Age in which we live in. The first reaction to a notification alert is to cease all current actions and respond. Once the habit of texting while driving becomes second nature, the driver no longer feels the danger associated with mixing these two deadly common day activities. My beliefs are that these factors are a contributing force in which makes it difficult for people to detox from the constant need to be plugged into their social lives and the act of driving.
It wasn’t until I presented an informative speech on the dangerous facts of texting while driving, for one of my college courses, that I realized I would no longer allow myself to be a distracted driver. The research I gathered for that presentation was truly insightful. I would never want to put the life of others or my own at risk for a text message. I am proud to say I no longer use my phone while driving and don’t plan to ever do so in the future. I make certain that my phone is on silent and out of my reach so there isn’t even the slightest bit of temptation to even look at my phone when I am behind the wheel. I believe that by hearing a speech on the dangerous reality behind texting while driving many could come to the realization that performing such an act isn't something that should be taken lightly or done at all.