Samuel Beckett was an absurdist, an Irish novelist, a short story writer, and a poet (“Samuel Beckett”). Beckett believed that mankind was responsible for its own downfall; this is proven when he stated, “We are all born mad, some remain so” in his play Waiting for Godot (Beckett, Waiting for Godot). The madness Beckett mentions can be compared to the madness displayed when a driver chooses to distract themselves while behind the wheel. Beckett’s belief that madness still remains in some of us agrees with the fact that the author would consider distracted driving a social epidemic and a display of madness. 

     In Waiting for Godot, Beckett stated, “There’s man all over for you, blaming on his boots the fault of his feet” (Beckett, Waiting for Godot). This means that mankind often blames outside factors for a negative result rather than accepting the blame themselves. Comparatively, when a driver hits another car, violates a traffic law, or causes a fatal car crash, it is elementary for the driver to blame the distractions in the driver’s vehicle. These distractions can come in many forms, including cell phone usage, passengers inside the vehicle, and adjusting settings, such as air conditioning or radio volume. Similarly to what Beckett said, it is often more likely for the driver to blame his “boots,” or in this case, the distraction, for the fault of his “feet,” or his own decision to use the distraction (Beckett, Waiting for Godot). The choice of using the distraction is the reason for the outcome, not the distraction. 

     Beckett also believed it is human instinct to act before thinking (Beckett, Waiting for Godot). He supported this claim by stating a third quote from Waiting for Godot. Beckett says, “Dance first. Think later. It is the natural order” (Beckett, Waiting for Godot). Beckett is implying the idea that it is “natural,” or instinctive, for people to act first, and then think later (Beckett, Waiting for Godot). Similarly, a distracted driver will often neglect the driver’s own safety or the safety of the people around the driver and act before the driver thinks. They act by allowing themselves to be distracted while having full responsibility behind the wheel. As a result of this instinctive response, distracted driving claimed nearly 3,500 lives in 2021 (“Distracted Driving”). Beckett's claim that the natural human instinct is to act before thinking supports the idea that distracted drivers would willingly distract themselves while behind the wheel without even thinking about the consequences that the act could bring (Beckett, Waiting for Godot). The instinctive action Beckett mentioned has allowed the deaths caused by distracted driving to grow over the years (“Distracted Driving”). 

     Furthermore, Samuel Beckett would agree that distracted driving is a social epidemic because using distractions while driving can become a habit that is hard to break. Habits can either be good habits, resulting in personal growth, or bad habits, resulting in the demise of the person and the people around them. Distracted driving is a bad habit to develop because it can result in the driver injuring themselves or other people around the driver. When a person first drives distracted, it may seem harmless, but this is a slippery slope to start down. Once someone gets into distracted driving, it is tough to stop. These bad habits can turn into a lifestyle, often leading to death. In Act Two of Waiting for Godot, Vladimir, one of Beckett's main characters, states, “We have time to grow old. The air is full of our cries. But habit is a great deadener” (Beckett, Waiting for Godot). According to this quote, Beckett would agree that a habit, especially a bad one like distracted driving, is a common way to die. Therefore, Samuel Beckett would agree that the habit of driving while distracted is a social epidemic plaguing this generation. 

     Moreover, Beckett would argue that the epidemic of distracted driving is never-ending. In another play, Proust, Beckett stated, “Life is Habit. Or rather life is a succession of habits” (Beckett, Proust). Similarly, once the habit of distracted driving becomes ignored, it becomes a part of everyday life. Drivers claim that these distractions, such as navigation systems, cell phones, and radio usage are essential because they use them regularly (“Database Distracted Driving: Cellphone Use”). Beckett mentions his thoughts on the essentials in Act Two of Waiting for Godot, he states, “The essential doesn’t change” (Beckett, Waiting for Godot). As a result of drivers being unwilling to change their “essentials” whilst behind the wheel, there is no foreseeable ending to this epidemic. 

     Throughout several of Beckett’s absurd works, he uses symbolism to display his thoughts and ideas. For example, in one of his most famous plays, Waiting for Godot, the entire plot is about two men waiting for a man named Godot, who never comes (Beckett, Waiting for Godot). One of the main themes of this play is the power behind man’s choice. The two men, Vladimir and Estragon, chose to continue to wait for Godot; the waiting was not mandatory (Beckett, Waiting for Godot). Similarly, when a driver assumes responsibility behind the wheel, they are met with the choice of whether or not they will give into the temptation of driving while distracted. Distractions on the road are not essential to driving, but they are constantly a choice readily accessible and available to drivers. The choice of whether or not to give into the choice of distraction while on the road is similar to the choice of Vladimir and Estragon; therefore, Beckett would agree that this choice aligns with the fact that distracted driving is an epidemic. 

     Beckett would agree that all of the previously mentioned arguments align with the fact that we all have a small amount of madness in us. When Beckett stated, “We are all born mad, some remain so,” he meant that the touch of madness lives in us for every stage of our lives (Beckett, Waiting for Godot). The distracted driving epidemic is an act of madness displayed by the deliberate endangerment of oneself or those around them. In fact, madness is defined as the “behavior or thinking that is very foolish or dangerous” (“Madness Definition & Meaning”). What could be more foolish than putting one’s own life and the lives of those around them in danger just to answer a text, change the song on the radio, or look at something on the side of the road? Beckett would agree that distracted driving is a social epidemic and an accurate display of the madness inside each individual. 

     Samuel Beckett would agree that distracted driving is a social epidemic that is an evident issue in today’s culture. Throughout several of his absurd poems, plays, and literature, he vividly described his ideas on the state of mankind and human nature. Based on Beckett’s beliefs, human nature is to blame their surroundings rather than themselves: act before thinking, live by habits, choose destruction, and ultimately display the madness present in each individual.