Drink, Text and Drive: Different Hazards To Road Safety
By: Andre Parafina
"It's nonsense! Texting while driving? I'm a good driver and I am not affected by these!"
People usually overlook road safety when it's their time on the road. Hazards such as drinking and driving, texting and driving, even eating while driving are left unnoticed or overlooked and it affects not only themselves but also the people around them. Eyes On The Road is a campaign that advocates to make various people more aware regarding road safety and responsible driving, not by only showing demographics but also by giving the audience different ways on how to become ultimately safer on the road. In this article, I'll discuss different hazards to road safety that people don't seem to bother when they're driving on the road and give ways on how to avoid these hazards. 1) Distracted Driving Distracted driving comes is many forms. It can range from using the phone while driving, listening to loud music while on the road to even eating while driving. These are some hazards that people usually overlook and neglect because it has become a habit since no one seems to warn them or rebuke them for this. According to TeenSafe.Com, 69% of the U.S. admit to using their cellphones while on the road (2018) and this is proof that texting while driving has got to be stopped. |
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"In May of 2017, Ohio woman Natasha Boggs, 25, killed two 14-year-old girls and severely injured a 15-year-old boy when she was texting and driving."
Now listening to loud music and eating while driving aren't as noticed compared to texting while but that doesn't mean they're less of hazard. According to Decidetodrive.com, eating while driving actually increases the likelihood of a driver to crash by 39%. On the other hand, Telegraph UK states that playing loud music while driving is not only infuriating to other people but it also distracts the driver from hearing incoming traffic.
2) Drunk Driving
Drunk driving is infamous for car crashes everywhere around the world and it has come to a point that we have to eradicate it already. The picture on the left portrays the percentage of drunk driving deaths and as you can see, the numbers don't lie.
These are only some of the hazards to road safety and let me tell you, there are tons more out there. The real question is, what can you do to avoid such incidents?
1) Be Alert
You have to always stay aware of your surroundings and be responsible enough to know if you are doing the right thing or if you are following the right rules. For example, you go out with your friends and you have a little drink, you should be aware and just take a cab going home.
2) Keep Your Eyes On The Road
It's simple, don't fall into distractions, keep your Eyes On The Road! While driving, you should practice to become more responsible to know when to use your phone, when to eat and when to play loud music. There's always a time and place for these things and doing them while on the road isn't the best time. If you really are itching to open your Facebook or bite that cheeseburger, then find a safe spot to stop and park and then you can do whatever it is you want to do.
Road Safety is simple yet important. Be aware of these simple steps and follow them and surely, you're on your way to becoming a more responsible driver.
Now listening to loud music and eating while driving aren't as noticed compared to texting while but that doesn't mean they're less of hazard. According to Decidetodrive.com, eating while driving actually increases the likelihood of a driver to crash by 39%. On the other hand, Telegraph UK states that playing loud music while driving is not only infuriating to other people but it also distracts the driver from hearing incoming traffic.
2) Drunk Driving
Drunk driving is infamous for car crashes everywhere around the world and it has come to a point that we have to eradicate it already. The picture on the left portrays the percentage of drunk driving deaths and as you can see, the numbers don't lie.
These are only some of the hazards to road safety and let me tell you, there are tons more out there. The real question is, what can you do to avoid such incidents?
1) Be Alert
You have to always stay aware of your surroundings and be responsible enough to know if you are doing the right thing or if you are following the right rules. For example, you go out with your friends and you have a little drink, you should be aware and just take a cab going home.
2) Keep Your Eyes On The Road
It's simple, don't fall into distractions, keep your Eyes On The Road! While driving, you should practice to become more responsible to know when to use your phone, when to eat and when to play loud music. There's always a time and place for these things and doing them while on the road isn't the best time. If you really are itching to open your Facebook or bite that cheeseburger, then find a safe spot to stop and park and then you can do whatever it is you want to do.
Road Safety is simple yet important. Be aware of these simple steps and follow them and surely, you're on your way to becoming a more responsible driver.
For more information visit the Facebook page of Eyes on The Road below: