Distracted Drivers

                             by Hyun Sook Lee Senteno

Since this is the era of driving, many people spend time in their cars. While driving, drivers talk to passengers, listen to music, or drink beverages naturally and habitually. Some even put on their makeup or shave their faces while driving. Driving may seem leisurely or peaceful, but that is not always the case. When people hold the steering wheel, even the best-behaved people can drive violently or run a red light. Sometimes drivers may curse when others selfishly cut them off. This is because such act threatens the life of the driver as well as others, making the driver anxious and sensitive.

Nowadays, the number of distracted drivers and pedestrians are on the rise, and this is a big problem. Automobile Club of Southern California launched a new TV advertisement campaign with the slogan, “Don’t Drive Intoxicated. Don’t Drive Intexticated.” On the screen, a car swerves left and right, not being able to stay in one lane. A middle-aged male driver holds a bottle of beer, and seated in the back are three children happily chattering away. Instantly, the alcohol bottle turns into a cellphone. The man, who is smiling at his smartphone with his head turned away, suddenly raises his head in horror. The traffic light has already turned red, and in the car straight up ahead are four young students in their graduation cap and gown. He pushes on the brakes, but it is too late. The screech of the wheel in friction, the thud of cars hitting, and screaming can be heard. Then you hear a narrator’s voice. Distracted driving kills an average of nine people and injures over a thousand every day in America. Looking at cellphones while driving endangers you and your family, and even the future of newly graduated youth. It’s a short commercial, but it is very realistic and well-made. I hope this will be broadcast more often.

A few days ago, I felt as if I had ten years taken from my life. Our car was standing in front of a stop sign to turn right in a secluded alley. On the pedestrian walkway, a teenager was moving his thumbs rapidly, concentrating on his smartphone. We waited, but he didn’t seem to be moving so we turned. Then, I heard a sound of our car hitting something. The car shook. My husband quickly stopped the car and ran out. It was the teenager. He did not see our car, and he proceeded to walk into the driveway and was hit. Thankfully, because the car had stopped and had just begun to move, it had not sped up. The teen also seemed to be okay. We urged him to go to the hospital with us, but he said it was his fault and just left. On my way back home, I had to rub my chest to calm my heart down. My acquaintance’s mother is 90 years old. She was healthy and brave. She didn’t want to burden her children, so she lived alone. One day, I heard that she had gotten into a car accident. A young man texting while driving ran into the pedestrian walkway and hit her. Because of her old age, it took her much longer to recover, and her health deteriorated greatly after the accident. After hearing this news, I resented that driver.

Disadvantages of using cellphones are clear. However, since it is a modern convenience that immediately answers all questions, it is hard to put them down. Cellphones have become a part of our body and an integral part of daily life. If they are not in your hands, you may feel rather nervous regardless of your age. It solves everything instantly, and world news and weather can be checked in real time. It is like holding a piece of universe in your hands. No wonder people are drawn to its convenience. Because drivers and pedestrians keep their heads down to look at their phones, the risk of traffic accidents are increasing. Using a cellphone while driving may be less dangerous than drowsy driving or intoxicated driving. But according to research, using a cellphone is like having consumed a bottle and a half of soju, an equivalent of 0.2% of blood alcohol level. This is enough to revoke your license. Looking at your phone for three seconds to call someone or to answer the phone is as dangerous as driving 30 meters while falling asleep. Drivers should always concentrate on driving. Even though the task may seem simple and safe, accidents can happen in a blink of an eye. Because I don’t drive often, I get nervous every time I sit behind the steering wheel. My nephew, who saw me drive once, and joked that I looked like a soldier going into battlefield, holding the steering wheel with both hands and sitting too close to the steering wheel. Being nervous like me is a problem, but overly confident drivers boasting their years of driving experience by being careless is also a problem. Even if you are confident in your defensive driving skills, if another person hits you, you are helpless. Especially if you have your cellphone in your hands.