'Always-connected' culture can be dangerous

A Mundelein letter to the Editor in response to the Daily Herald article, "Why hands-free driving isn't risk free."

As a junior at Mundelein High School, I am very disappointed in this "always-connected" culture that is prevalent among today's technology.

People everywhere are constantly checking social media on their phone or other Internet-enabled device. Normally, this wouldn't be a problem; what one does with their spare time isn't of my concern.

This only becomes a problem when people are using technology when driving.

The number of people that can't keep their hands off their phones when operating an on-average 4,000-pound machine should not be as high as over 1000 in an hour, as the Daily Herald's exercise found.

When one focuses on touching or looking at their phone, the risk of getting into an accident on the road is increased by 293 percent. With the increased inclusion of "hands-free" systems in new vehicles, one would think that the risk would be decreased; however, this is not the case.

The problem isn't just the increase in technology use among today's youth; drivers have been eating, applying makeup, reading, and just generally distracting themselves from the road since the mass production of vehicles.

The last three increase one's chances of getting into an accident by over 310 percent, while eating only increases those chances by about 160 percent.

I believe that we must stress the importance of concentrating on the road more in driver's education classes. Find some other time to read the newspaper, eat your breakfast, or apply your eyeliner.

Similarly, that text can wait.

You should be focused on the road and concentrate on driving safely and legally, not on what your friends are talking about on social media.

It irritates me that so many people, both young and old, disregard the safety of others as well as their own just to stay connected to social media.

Pawel Michalski

Mundelein