According to the Official U.S. Government Website for Distracted Driving, at the top of their list of distractions while driving in teens is text messaging, since it requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver. Nearly three quarters of teens have access to a smart phone, and 24% of those teens go online “almost constantly” (Lenhart). If nearly three quarters of teens have a cell phone, and they are constantly going online with their cell phones it should be no surprise to see text messaging comes in top of the list, and why the public has a growing concern with teenagers behind the wheel. The Official U.S Government Website for Distracted Drivers also points out, the largest age group of distracted drivers at the time
Distracted driving poses an immense problem across the United States, and the issue only seems to continue growing. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “In 2015 alone, 3,477 people were killed” in cases involving distracted driving, and of those killed, “teens were the largest age group reported as distracted at the time of fatal crashes” (“Distracted Driving”, n.d.). These terrifying statistics cannot be ignored. Distracted driving is a national epidemic, and unless society addresses the problem properly and efficiently, the risky driving behavior will continue to plague our streets, endangering peoples’ lives and leading to more fatalities.
7.08 Assignment – Argumentative Essay Final Draft It's no secret that distracted driving is a huge issue in today's world. In 2015 alone, more than 3,400 deaths and 390,000 injuries occurred as a result of distracted driving, according to dmv.org. Most people are aware of this nationwide problem, and while some people have taken the pledge to stop distracted driving behavior, many people have chosen to simply ignore the issue. Those people are a danger to everyone else on the road, and because it is not easy or ethical to force them to stop their behavior, the easiest and most effective option is to convince them to stop. Trying to convince people of the dangers of distracted driving can come in several forms, but the most noticeable and arguably
Distracted driving is very dangerous to everyone on the road ways. Distracted driving is engaging in non-driving activities that distracts the driver from the primary task of driving (SIRS). In 2015, 3,477 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver (CDC). Each year about 421,000 people are injured in crashes involving a distracted driver (Edgar Snyder). Drivers would not be texting if their message was not very important. Distracted driving should be illegal and security devices in vehicles should be implemented in order to save lives.
The state of Colorado is NOT doing enough to prevent distracted driving, especially among tech-savvy millennials who ignore safety precautions set by the government in order to reduce the amount of accidents each year from careless drivers. Despite road signs and an increased cost on distracted driving tickets - it is still technically legal to text and drive in the state of Colorado. In July of 2017, the government decided that using handheld devices while driving is considered safe unless the driver is being careless or reckless. What government officials refuse to acknowledge is that it takes a fraction of a second to permanently ruin your life or someone else’s. Studies have shown that distracted driving delays the body's ability to reach to urgent situations by an average of 6 seconds. Comparatively, the timing of these reactions are very similar to those results of people who consume alcohol/drugs prior to getting in the car and driving. As for the consequences, a ticket is $300 but the guilt lasts a lifetime and those who drive recklessly and take the life of another person never get over their foolish decision to prioritize a phone over their own safety. It’s important to educate the youth and future generations of the dangers distracted driving can lead to - as well as explain the effects if they are not careful.
Personally, growing up around new technological advances such as the rise of social media has impacted my own life because I have seen friends of mine become distracted while driving firsthand, for this reason, I believe as a nation we should take action to minimize accidents caused by this epidemic. Some ways we can begin this effort is by teaching the negative consequences of distracted driving by accordingly enforcing laws, instituting fines, as well as making its awareness a mandatory topic in drivers ed classes and in driving tests throughout the country. Although as a society before driving we should encourage silencing our cell phones, using driving apps to avoid distractions, or setting up priority settings beforehand for emergency calls or notifications. By using a combination of assets such as law enforcement, government mandates, societal influence, phone settings, and spreading awareness we can better educate the public and end distracted driving.
There are not enough distracted driving laws in Florida to protect your children, and even you. In 2015 there were 45,740 distracted driving wrecks in Florida, 214 of them resulting in fatalities (Distracted Driving Crashes, P3). The Florida police only gave out 3488 distracted driving citations (Distracted Driving Citations). The difference in numbers is alarming. Your children are driving, your loved ones are driving, and there is barely any enforcement for this dangerous trend. Sure, there are laws that crack down on distracted drivers and PSAs to raise awareness. However, those laws need to be enforced and the PSAs need to be spread in more ways. To really prevent distracted driving wrecks and fatalities, people of Florida must work
Distracted driving has proven time and time again to be a leading cause of accidents. From eating to texting and driving, distractions on the roadway are apparent every day. Because roadway travel is inevitable in daily activities, precautions should be taken in order to stay safe. The debate concerning distracted driving lies in the preventative measures by the state government. Our state does provide enough information through awareness events, public service announcements, and programs to prevent distracted driving. While one could argue that the state does not actively prevent distracted driving, the state does provide resources to combat distracted driving. Florida’s various published resources in accordance with enforcement work
For years on end there have been many cataclysmic accidents cause nationwide due to distracted drivers. Not texting and driving, and being on social media while driving seem like an elementary rule. However, it has become more habitual that accidents are caused by distracted drivers. In today's society technology has almost brainwashed the teenagers of this generation to believe that text messages and social media rule their lives. That seems to be the problem right there, so that leaves it up to higher authority and even those higher than them to condone rules. And that leaves us with the question does the government of Florida do enough to prevent distracted driving? Or is there something that they are missing? Although many laws have been
Distracted drivings comes in many forms: texting, speaking on the phone, or even listening to music. In the state of Arizona, there is no laws prohibiting its citizens from distracted driving, it is one of the nine states to have not yet place a ban on this. The ban on distracted driving has been brought to legislative on multiple occasions but was always turned down, even though there are many conclusive accidents caused by distracted drivers, people still refused to take actions. Many opposing the ban argue that drivers should have the decision to act accordingly to their own judgements and drive if they want. While others believe that the government should enforce more laws to protect everyone’s safety. Although the state have not been successfully
Distracted driving is an issue that causes so many deaths each year. Looking at your phone, somewhere else in the car, or even doing your makeup can be the last thing you do before killing yourself and others. The state of Florida is urging drivers not to drive distracted through public service announcements and laws related to distracted driving. Public service announcements (PSA) are made to warn drivers of the consequences of driving while distracted. However, the decision is up to the driver to listen to the PSA and save not only their life but the lives of others around them each day. Some argue that Florida’s PSA’s and laws are not enough to prevent distracted driving. They argue that the laws are not strict enough saying “Currently,
Having your phone with you driving has become a big part of our daily lives. While it is a great tool to have if there was an emergency, it’s also leading to our destruction. Every single day I watch in horror as driver’s text whilst they are driving. We have all heard for years that it is dangerous to use our phones while operating a motor vehicle, so why does a greater part of the population, mostly teens, continue to practice this dangerous act? I believe it is because the laws are not strict enough to be a deterrent.
Many states have laws about distracted driving such as no handheld devices are allowed to be used, bus drivers are not allowed to use cell phones while driving, while other states do allow cell phone use. Some states allow “all drivers (regardless of residency) must use hands-free devices, except for emergencies and on-duty emergency and police personnel,” in D.C. (Weir). The difference in opinion in the different states because of their different views on cellular use while driving. According to Opposing Viewpoints statistics “School bus drivers may not use cell phones while operating a school bus, except for emergencies,” and this was a common theme for many of the different states. Many states agree with this laws though there are some that have a difference in opinion. Some states permit cell phone use “as long as it provides sound through one ear and allows surrounding sound to be heard with the other ear,”(Weier). The different states opinions on the cellular usage and cell phones while driving a vehicle. In conclusion, different states have different viewpoints on laws about distracted driving with cell phones, such as bus drivers aren’t allowed to, some states allow Bluetooth devices, while other states allow cell phone use. Law
“In a split second you could ruin your future, injure or kill others, and tear a hole in the heart of everyone who loves you,” (Heit). This specific quote shows how the results of distracted driving not only affects you, but also those around you. Distracted driving has been a serious concern for many years. This subject has been an issue because of the dangers it brings to the safety of others. One major type of distracted driving includes texting and driving. which is becoming more popular in today’s society because many have cell phones. Another type of distracted driving is drinking and driving, this continues to stay a topic for many years. Although drinking and driving and texting and driving carry many similarities with the
Advancing technology in wireless communications is presenting a growing concern for distracted driving due to using cell phones and other electronic devices while driving. Although distracted driving accidents and fatalities have risen in the last decade, placing a ban on the use of a cell phone or other electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle as some states have will not resolve the issue. In fact a ban on cell phones and driving may very well increase the accident and fatality rate because drivers are now more involved with concealing their illegal behaviors. More citizen participation and drivers safety management should be more carefully considered in a transpiring situation such as this. More Americans should be
Does it seem like everywhere you go people are preoccupied with texting? Often people are seen with the cell phone in one hand and texting while walking, in a restaurant eating with friends, working or shopping. It has become a part of everyday life. The convenience and the need to stay connected has made texting a useful method of communicating, that has increased dramatically with teenagers. According to Dr. Delgado, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at Perelman School of Medicine, “Adolescents report that texting is the most common way that they stay in contact with friends, sending an average of a hundred texts per day” (para. 1). This includes texting while driving. The effects of distracted driving from texting include legal penalties, increase in insurance premiums, motor vehicle crashes, and even death. Texting while driving has become a major problem in the United State and a simple LOL can have serious consequences.