Change only happens if you want it to happen
Life is always full of challenges; we all know that. It’s a regular challenge to raise our kids, to sometimes do our jobs and to keep your household chores up to date. Some people have a better handle on doing these things successfully than other people do. They seem to have self-control when it comes to doing the proper things most of the time. Do you?
There are a lot of ways to try to get people to conform to new ways of doing things. We can ground our kids or take things away from them to show them we’re not pleased with what they did. Would that work for drivers? Apparently that’s the system across our society. If you’re caught doing something wrong while driving, you can have your vehicle taken from you or your driver’s license suspended as well. Does that change people’s attitude? Does it change the attitude of your kids when you take things away from them or punish them? If not, why would it change the attitude of drivers?
I was sitting with colleagues recently discussing how we can get the message across to drivers about driving a certain way – a safer way. The reality is, no one will make changes in their driving if they don’t see the value in it. Taking someone’s driver’s license away from them as a penalty becomes an inconvenience, but is it a deterrent to stop them from doing it again and again? The same thing could be said about taking someone’s vehicle away for a short period of time; would that penalty stop them from doing it again?
Look at all of the distracted driving problems we hear about each and every day. No one will stop doing it if they don’t see it as wrong. Is it an addiction to text and drive? Some people would believe that it is since they can’t seem to stop. If someone really wants to stop doing something, it’s really up to them to make those changes. Laws and penalties won’t stop them unless they want to stop themselves. All that the laws and penalties can do is slow them down.
I’ve said this many times when I’m training someone to drive; I can only teach them if they want to learn. If you don’t want to do something a certain way, you won’t. You have to want to make those changes before they can happen. You have to look at the end value before making any promises to yourself. It’s similar to making resolutions in the New Year each and every year. Talk is fine, but do you really believe you’re going to make those changes without commitment? If you’re committed to making a change, you’re mentally ready to start. If not, you’re just blowing wind.
Too many people still belong to the “it won’t happen to me” club and expect that other people will get caught texting while driving or the other person will crash into someone and injure them. It always happens to the other person, right? Wrong. One day it will happen and if we don’t stop doing the same thing over and over again, change will never happen. You can’t keep putting off these changes.
If you’re going to make changes you have to have a solid plan in order for these changes to happen. When it comes to distracted driving, make positive changes now. Remove all of the distractions and keep them away from your reach while driving. Media and government can’t make these changes within you. You have to make those changes yourself. You’ll have to start to make new habits. You’ll need to want to do this and keep doing this. So now’s the time to make that change; will you?
Yes i agree with your statement that chenge will only happen if you want it to happen. BUT how can we want it to happen or how can we make a start for this change to happen?
Well i think we need people to understand the problem and we can do that by many routes and when people understand the problem then they will want the change to happen and happen it will.
I agree with you that we can help people think about their options, which is the purpose of my blog. Their choices must be their choies and we can all help them think of their choices. Thanks for your comment.
Those Against Drunk Driving (TADD) agree ….. as did Abe Lincoln … see on our website: http://www.thoseagainstdrunkdriving.org. For people to change, young or old, we have to make distracted or drunk driving socially unacceptable. The more we talk about the simple changes that can be made to change our habits and to demonstrate that new alternative habits can be created in 2 – 3 weeks. TADD wants drivers to “think before they drink” and arrange safe rides home.
If lives are not important to drivers … maybe the cost of being bailed out of jail and getting your car back after it has been impounded, to say nothing of court fees and penalties; set that against the cost of a cab home could be a good incentive.
“Laws and penalties won’t stop them unless they want to stop themselves.” I fact, anti-texting laws do work. While motivation is important, strict laws and public education work together to change attitudes. http://t.co/N7SmGxbExz
I do agree with you on this topic. Compliance is the toughest part of implementing these laws.