Letter: Real danger is in distracted driving

While driving under the influence of alcohol and marijuana has been a major problem this year, it is important to remember that the real danger is in distracted driving. Distracted driving is a leading cause of automobile accidents, particularly with new teenage drivers.

As students of a high school that is close to the highway, we can attest that by simply ignoring a single text or letting one call go to voicemail, we as a community can make these accidents occur less frequently.

After consulting several sources, a primary reason for the spike in automobile accidents are caused by those with active devices or loud music. As popular as some songs may be, they are not worth dying for. Volume of any kind can distract the driver from the road and other surroundings. This point applies to the passengers as well, because making loud noises in the car are not appreciated by the driver or the other passengers. In addition, active devices often provide unnecessary temptation to multitasking while driving.

We ask drivers of any age to drive safely and without distraction.

This story was originally published October 30, 2016 at 4:10 AM with the headline "Letter: Real danger is in distracted driving."