Distracted Driving (abbas)

Abbas Mushtak Zankaneh Driving 280899-XXXX H.C.Ørsted Gymnasium 2.C

English - Distracted 27/10-16

Distracted Driving

The secretary of the US Department of Transport, Ray La Hood, asserts that distracted driving has become an epidemic in America. He mentions that almost every American, including several teenagers, own a phone. This simple distraction often leads to tragic deaths and traumatic experiences. The death of 15-year-old Ryan Didone is merely a single case out of the 4,000 yearly cases of teenagers who lose their lives in car accidents in the US. On October 21?st? 2008, Ryan was riding in a car along with four friends when the driver suddenly lost control of the car and hit a tree, resulting in an impact so immense that all of the passengers were severely injured. Ryan was flown to a nearby hospital, but passed away shortly after his arrival. Ryan’s father, Thomas Didone, states that distracted driving is an issue which everyone should pay great attention to. Furthermore, he emphasizes the recognition of the fact that such tragic incidents can happen to anyone, and therefore all parents should be alert and help educate their kids regarding this matter. Several government agencies and private companies are attempting to counteract distracted driving by using public announcements and safety events to raise awareness. 19-year-old Kevin Schuman, who took part in a safe-driving event near Washington DC, was shocked at the results of his test in which he compared his driving skills with and without distractions on a closely monitored obstacle course. Schuman realized how problematic it can be to text and drive simultaneously. According to insurance representative Debby Pickford, research shows that the combination of inexperience and not fully developed brains is what puts teenagers at such a great risk. However, new legislations which would require all states to implement “Graduated Driver's License Programmes” have been introduced in the US congress. Such programmes will ensure that young drivers are prohibited from driving during the night, are restricted to a specific amount of passengers, and are not able to obtain a full license until they reach the age of 18. The worst nightmare of any parent is to receive that “one” phone call. The phone call which is capable of turning one’s world upside down, creating chaos and confusion in one’s brain in a matter of no time, and thus leaving a void in one’s heart; the phone call one receives when one’s child has lost their life to the utterly disturbing trend of reckless and distracted driving. At that moment, there is nothing but silence despite the anarchistic mayhem going on in one’s mind. One has no control over the immediate gushing of tears. One tries to keep cool, convincing oneself that it is but a bad dream, and that the person on the other end of the line is playing some kind of sick prank. If only one’s mere convincement could be enough to turn back time, but unfortunately, this is not the case. No parent ever wishes to hear the dreadful news that one has outlived one’s children due to something as ridiculous as distracted driving, whoever’s fault it may have been. However, many parents fail to realize that someday it may be their own children who encounter such an atrocious fate. Captain at Montgomery Police Department Thomas Didone, father of late Ryan Didone