Dangers Of Texting While Driving

There have been television commercials about the deadly effects of distracted driving, the state made it illegal to text and drive, and while driving there are billboards to remind you. Florida has done its part to try to keep you safe, now it’s up to you.

Distracted driving, the act of driving while engaged in other activities, has long been a dangerous epidemic on America’s roadways. While there’s a wide range of activities that distract American drivers, texting while driving has become increasingly prevalent, as the popularity of mobile devices has risen since the 1990s (Noder, 2009). In American culture, which has become ever more dependent on cellphones, many experience the desire to always be accessible – even while on the go (Noder, 2009). This desire, motivated by both social and business objectives, leads many to use their phones behind the wheel. Eighty-five percent of Americans, a number

Nearly 6,000 people are killed connecting to the outcome of cell phone use while driving, according to Edmunds.com (7). Texting and talking on the phone throughout the time that a person is driving can have deadly consequences, but people still don’t seem to want to give up risking their life. There are many issues that can happen while on the road related to the usage of cell phones. It is important to stop people from looking at their phones while driving, because it is extremely distracting and not safe. Even hands free devices are not as safe as they seem to be. There have to be consequences for people using their cell phones while driving in order to improve the people’s safety. According to Edmunds.com, cell phones are known as distractions everywhere in the world and have created several concerns to several countries (9).

Being the cause of a cell phone related accident can leave a person unable to handle the consequences of their actions. There is great concern regarding the dangers of distracted driving. This is made evident by legislation that has been put in place in the United States. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (2011), nationwide, 34 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam have enacted texting bans. Current data from the National Safety Council (2010) suggest that each year, at least 1.6 million traffic accidents (28% of all crashes) in the United States are caused by drivers talking on cell phones or texting. The U.S. Department of Transportation (2011) states that nine states, the District of Columbia, and

In this age of multitasking, the use of cell phones is combined with assignments like cooking, driving, babysitting, walking, doing college assignments and even eating. Whereas the use of cell phones while doing some chores might be simply annoying, the consequence of using cell phone with driving can be fatal. Recent polls by the Pew Research Center and other researchers show that about fifty to ninety percent young Americans admit using their cell phone while driving. This includes about thirty six percent who said they texted or typed something whiles driving. (Lopresti-Goodman, Rivera, & Dressel, 2012). The practice of using phone particularly texting while driving has increased the number of distracted driving accidents. When the cell phone records of people involved

Distracted driving, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, include things like talking on your cell phone, texting, emailing and even eating (“Distracted Driving.”). Being distracted for even a few seconds can be deadly. Every day over 9 people are killed and more than 1,000 injured in accidents associated with distracted drivers, according to the CDC (“Distracted Driving.”). This heartbreaking statistic could be reduced if States would do more to prevent distracted driving. Florida recently took action and banned texting and driving. This law, however, is not enough to reduce the tragedies caused by distracted driving.

Web. 15 Apr. 2016. .” that distracted driving is by any mental or physical activity that the driver’s is focus, while she or he is driving and is off task. Under, the “Florida State Statute 316.305” its prohibits the driver to text and drive at the same time. But, this rule and laws hasn’t been followed and listen, so the Florida need to in force it and put a message saying the following: “Anyone who’s seem or caught violating the Florida State Statute under 316.305, will be force to pay a fee of $500-800 dollars. So, remember to listen and obey the laws; so together we can save more life’s. And, decreased the accidents of distraction driving.” This, will help the state of Florida to decreased the accidents of distraction driving. Also, it will be the state with the least death occur; because of a distracted driver’s. So, remember our state of Florida is already doing and practicing to prevent distracting driving, but Florida is not doing enough to prevent

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

We know that Florida ranks second only to Louisiana for distracted driving. Almost 50,000 car accidents were credited to distracted driving last year. Approximately 37% of the drivers say they text and drive. Law enforcement officials should be more aware of what people behind the wheel are doing. People ought to have consequences for their actions. If using an electronic device while driving, receiving a ticket, in addition to having your license suspended for 30 days would make one think before attempting to operate a motor vehicle. The second time one is pulled over for using an electronic device while operating a motor vehicle the consequence should be severer, for instance losing a driver’s license for at least a year. According to Florida law, police are forbidden from stopping drivers specifically for cell phone use since texting while driving is not a primary offense. This is completely unacceptable, however, if the police commenced pulling people over for being distracted whilst driving there

Distracted driving is an issue among many age groups, although the problem is mostly seen with teens. Texting isn’t the only distraction that is seen while driving, but it is one of the immense ones. Crying children, trying to fix a radio station and alcohol are also factors that could affect you attention on the road and lead to an accident. Texting while driving takes your eyes and hand off of the road for approximately five seconds to read and reply to a text, making it easy to lose control of your car. Florida does have a cell phone and texting driving law, but most of the time it isn’t evident that texting while driving was a distraction until it is too late. A driver can only be charged if they are arrested for another motor violation. The best way to prevent an accident due to texting and driving is to not do it.

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

Distracted driving is one of the fastest growing problems in the United States.   It is starting to be considered as serious as drunk driving based on the dangerous outcomes.  According to the Department of Transportation (2012), “distracted driving was a cause of roughly 450,000 accident-related injuries and nearly 5,500 fatalities in 2009 alone” (para. 1). Drivers who allow themselves to become distracted while driving are not only endangering themselves, but other innocent bystanders.

In America, drivers become distracted by using their cell phones. Many young and old drivers are texting and using their phones while getting into accidents on the highway. In 2013, 424,000 injuries occurred in accidents involving distracted drivers (Ncsl.org, 2016). Fourteen states passed laws to ban using hand-held cell phones while driving. California, New York, and New Jersey are some of the states that banned driving while using cell phones. Although these states banned cell phone use while driving there are exceptions to the law. Law enforcement agents, Firefighters, Emergency medical technicians and State DOT employees can text and use their cell phones while driving (Ncsl.org, 2016). At the local, state, and federal level lawmakers are focusing their concern on distracted driving. Laws must exist to end texting and cell phone use while driving to save lives and keep roadways safe.

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

alone every year. The issue of driving while talking on a cell phone has become serious enough that five states have passed laws prohibiting this type of act and making it a primary offense to do so. Not only are drivers talking behind the wheel, but many have admitted to engaging in even more potentially dangerous behavior with their phones such as text messaging and surfing the internet. A distracted driver is a dangerous one. If you are focused on a conversation and your eyes are not on the road, drivers cannot be expected to make a quick and safe decision should the need for one arise. The behavior of a driver while using a cell phone has been compared to that of one driving while under the influence. Studies have shown that those who use a cell phone while driving are four times more likely to be involved in a crash than those who don’t.