Distracted drivers are all over the
roadway, from sipping sodas to reading to talking on cell
phones, drivers are doing more than focusing on the roadways.
Taking
your hands off the steering wheel slows your reaction time.
Drivers should be aware of all the cars around them, the cars in front,
behind and off to the side. If drivers are busy playing with the
radio, trying to put a lid on their drink or searching for a phone
number their focus is not fully on the road and it puts lives in
danger. A startling statistic, around 38,000 people die each year due
to distracted driving.
It's something everyone is guilty of,
talking while driving, but cell phones are only one distraction inside
the car causing serious problems on the roadways. Teenagers say they
are most distracted by many things such as multiple friends in the car,
the radio, i-pods and talking or texting on the phone. The worst part,
drivers don't realize the consequences of not paying attention until
its to late.
Tom Mosley, driving instructor for
the Southeastern Oklahoma Driving School says, "Most people think a 20
second text message no big deal. It's just 20 seconds out of life, but
it can cause so many problems."
Now, distracted driving is an
issue being addressed in driver's education. Instructor's are showing
graphic, real life scenarios to catch students attention and sometimes
the graphic scenes are to much to handle. "I have have students opt
out just because they have lost friends or relatives because of
distracted driving," says Mosley.
Even with the education,
teenagers are still finding themselves distracted on the roads.
Brittany Renfro, a teenage driver says, "My friends will be looking
down texting and someone in front will be stopping and they have to
slam on their breaks," and her friend Olivia Ruston adds, "Every time
I'm in the car with my younger friends, their always on the phone."
The
extra attention driver's ed is paying to distractions is helping cut
down on irresponsible driving, but helping kids fight distractions can
also start at home. Katy Lehr tells us her parents reinforce safety
inside her car. "My parents have also talked to me about it. They
want to make sure I am safe and I do not get into an accident."
The
extra time parents take to talk to their kids about safety is helping
teenagers make more responsible decisions when taking the wheel. "If I
am driving and I have someone in my car, I'll hand them my phone and
have them send the text", says high school student Brittany Renfro.
For teens, learning to drive is hard enough without the added distractions from radio, I-pods, and cell phones.
Tom
Mosley also tells us the death rate from distracted driving has not
declined over the years, instead the distractions have changed. In the
80s he says the biggest problem was drinking and driving, the 90s it
was road rage and now it's technology causing around 38,000 deaths on
the roadways each year.
Christina Lusby, Reports KTEN.com.