Distracted driving has claimed approximately 3,500 lives a year, with the main cause being texting according to “The Zebra,’’ an auto insurance rate finder website.  Despite it being a danger, a lot of people still tend to do it, for reasons like not taking it seriously, or just thinking it would take a second and it’ll be fine.

Cheyenne Buford, who doesn’t really drive,  seemed to be against the matter. ‘’I think that people shouldn’t drive and be on their phone, it could kill you or someone else… if my friend was on their phone while driving, I usually tell them to put it away for both of our safety,’’ Buford said. 

Buford started to take texting and driving seriously after her friend, who was driving, nearly got them into an accident. They were lucky nothing bad happened, Buford also added that the phone can wait and it’s not worth risking lives on the road just to check the phone.  This incident happened two years ago. 

Omar Kirbi, student, drives often but unlike Buford, he tends to be on his phone while driving and has been ever since he started to drive. ‘’I’ve gotten used to it, I know it might pose a danger to others around me, but I’m on it almost every time I drive… now I do try to limit my time on it while driving, but it has gotten to become a bad habit  more than anything,’’ said Kirbi. 

Kirbi wasn’t trying to sound careless, but we all have bad habits, and it turns out that this is one of them for him. 

Stefan Draganic, student, has had an accident because he decided to quickly glance at his notifications. He said it only took one second for him to rear end somebody, and realized it was ill advised afterwards. 

However, it still seems he goes on it, but just has limited usage since the accident, only going on it during red lights. Draganic said, ‘’I still go on it, but I’m more careful with it now… basically when I’m stationary.’’ 

Draganic admitted to being careless when going on his phone while driving prior to the accident, he recognized it can only take one second looking off the road for something bad to happen.  

On another note, Buford said that the warnings on social media and the commercials aren’t effective enough, which is why people don’t listen. As for Draganic and Kirbi, the warnings on road signs or on the media doesn’t affect their decisions in the long run.