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I wrote my op-ed piece on the dangers of using technology while driving. The last two paragraphs of the piece are in my opinion the best parts and my favorite parts. I liked these paragraphs the best because I thought my writing was the strongest and most persuasive here. I was proud that in those paragraphs I thought I connected the evidence back to my claim and purpose well because that is something I usually struggle with. What I also liked about these last paragraphs was that I used evidence that showed how all kinds of technology are distracting--not just advanced technology. These things all contributed to making the last two paragraphs of my op-ed The Danger of That Distracted Driver, my favorite out of all the paragraphs.

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Did you know that more than 9% of car accidents are related to distracted driving? (Federal Communications Commission, The Dangers of Distracted Driving). Whether it is changing the radio, texting or calling someone on the phone, so many people per day are using technology while driving. This topic of technology being used while driving is highly debated because despite all of the evidence that proves otherwise, many people believe that technology is beneficial to drivers. However, I strongly believe that technology negatively impacts drivers--and you should too! The students reading this may be confused: Why would a 13 year old care about this topic? Why is this relevant to her? Although right now this writing piece may seem random to 13 and 14 year olds, it is important for our generation to be informed of the dangers of driving while using technology, because in two or three years, we will be driving too. We need to be prepared so that we don’t endanger our own lives when it comes time for us to drive: especially if it’s just for a phone call, text message or to listen to better music.

An article by the Federal Communications Commission stated that more than 2,800 people were killed as a result of distracted driving in  2018 (Federal Communications Commission, The Dangers of Distracted Driving). Additionally, around 400,000 people were injured in crashes involving distracted drivers in 2018 (CDC, Distracted Driving). This data shows the magnitude of the problem of distracted driving in the United states. When our parents and guardians drive us places, we might ask them to change the radio station or put on Spotify from their phone. This technology we use while driving is seen as common and “safe” nowadays, but in actuality, this entertainment that we demand to have at all times--even while driving--is injuring and killing thousands of people.

At Coleytown Middle School, an anonymous 8th grader shared his/her story involving a distracted driver, they wrote, “...Me and my dad have also been in an accident because when the lights turned green for us we drove ahead just to find a car speeding down and hitting us around the front on my side. I was in the passenger seat and saw the driver on his phone as he raised his head to notice the oncoming traffic” (Technology While Driving. Mar. 2021). This experience is shocking. It shows not only the negative, physical effects of technology on drivers and civilians, but it shows how technology causing an accident can scar someone mentally as well!

However, a temporary solution to this crash epidemic caused by technology, is a phone app. DriveMode is an Android app designed to prevent technology related distractions that lead to car accidents. DriveMode reads all phone alerts aloud and plays music, so the person driving has no need to check their phone (Consumer Reports, Technology That Can Reduce Driving Distractions and Their Dangers). At first glance this app seems like a fine solution to preventing distracted driving. However, when analyzed further, drivemode is a flawed app. It may intend to prevent distractions, but it only encourages distraction. It may read messages, but people are still going to want to respond to them. It may play music, but there is always a song that needs to be changed. In an article written on technology and distracted drivers, the author of the article, Mr. Elgan recalled a memory from when he was younger. He was driving his car listening to the radio, the light was green so he glanced down at his radio to fiddle with the channels. The light turned red in a split-second and Mr. Elgan smashed into a new Cadillac, totaling both cars (Elgan). In Mr. Elgan’s case, changing the radio in those days is the equivalent of changing your Spotify, Apple Music, or any other form of music nowadays. It always was and always will be a distraction, despite the apps that may try to change that. Therefore,  Drivemode cannot fix the problem of distracted driving caused by technology. Instead, the app that is meant to solve the problem, will worsen it.

Overall, technology is dangerous to drivers and people around them. We should all avoid technology while driving -- whether it is low tech activities such as changing the radio station, or high tech activities such as Apple Carplay or texting. It is even more important for parents to follow these guidelines because their teenage kids are going to pick up their habits when they start to drive in a few years. We don’t want our bad usage of technology to carry on to them. Stop using technology while driving because otherwise, you will be hit with the consequences.