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.
Plenty of people are losing their daughters, sons, or other family members because of either distracted driving or drinking and driving. Both are a big issue. Not only are people getting hurt, but parents also suffer when their children get into an accident. People do not think about the people they are hurting because of their actions. People need to take care and drive safely each time they are behind the wheel. Five seconds is the average time someone’s eyes are off the road while they are texting (“Facts and Statistics”). The majority of teens respond to a text message at least once or more every time they drive. Teens have the tendency of responding to a text message when they are driving or even when they are on their social media. Cell phone use while driving might be as or more dangerous than driving under the influence of
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.
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
These studies are not limited to only teens, but also include adults as well. Distracted driving is not an age specific problem. This problem can range from teens to senior citizens. Adults are just as likely as teens to have texted while driving and are significantly more likely to have talked on the phone while driving. The re¬sults in this report are based on data from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International between April 29 and May 30, 2010, among a sample of 2,252 adults, age eighteen and older. “Nearly half (47%) of all texting adults say they have sent or read a text message while driving” (Madden). Many cellphone owners take advantage of the technology by performing several kinds of tasks in many types of places, including in the car and while walking. Two places where attention should be paid to the fullest. Madden also explains, “That compares to one in three (34%) texting teens ages 16-17 who said they had texted while driving in a September 2009 survey.” This is rather alarming when a person considers how cars have changed throughout the years in number, speed, size, and the age of the operators. The driving age varies from state to state, but the average is fifteen and six months for driver training to begin. This seems quite young to be given this responsibly without the need for in-depth training covering
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
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.
Persuasive Essay Marlen E. Pew once said, “Recklessness is a species of crime and should be so regarded on our streets and highways.” In today’s world, technology is evolving at a rapid pace and it has revolutionized how people communicate with each other. Because of this, it has been a lot easier for drivers to get distracted behind the wheel, especially by their mobile phones. Since Americans have busy lives, it has been seen that people do not have the time to get the things done they need to.
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
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.