Distracted Driving Laws: The Leading Cause Of Death

Distracted driving; most of us are guilty of it without even knowing it. Distracted driving is doing anything else unrelated to driving while behind the wheel. This could include: using a cell phone, changing the radio station, eating food, and even having a conversation. The most distracting of them all is using a cell phone because it requires the user to manually input information. The laws surrounding texting while driving are far too lenient when compared to laws on drunk driving, yet both can end in a car crash. People texting while driving should face steeper penalties than what is already in place because they are a danger to anyone around them. The small fines are not enough to deter people. While banning cell phones from being allowed in vehicles is not an effective approach to the problem, stricter laws should be put in place to make the roads a safer place. Texting while driving penalties should be treated with a similar severity that DUI charges are. The penalties for texting and driving need to be increased because it would make the roads safer, increase the government’s revenue, and help solve the problem of texting while driving.

Many people have lost their lives on the road and caused other’s deaths because they were distracted with doing something while driving. In 2012, 3,328 people were killed in distraction-related crashes (“Statistics on Texting & Cell Phone Use While Driving” n.d.). Distractions while driving that result in these accidents include texting/making a call or becoming intoxicated and having high blood alcohol concentration. Many laws have been brought forth to help regulate the amount of people drinking while driving and using a cell phone while driving. Not only do people put their own lives in danger, they are also putting other’s lives in danger. People who take part in these distractions are not being responsible when making these rash decisions while driving and creating a hazardous environment for those around them.

According to Ashley Gaddis from Counterpoint, “From 1999 to 2008, nearly fifty-two thousand people were killed in car crashes caused by distracted drivers” (n.pag.). Distracted driving started when technology became mobile and handheld. Many people have died and gotten injured from people not paying attention to the road. This problem has been growing as technology advances. Distracted driving is a big problem and there needs to be stronger penalties and laws in place to deter people from distracted driving.

The amount of car accidents that happen each year continue to increase. This continues to happen because of the number of people who consistently drive distracted everyday. This is due to a surplus of reasons, however, many fall subject to driving distracted because they prioritize their cell phones more than what is happening on the road in front of them.

One of the biggest rites of passages in the United States at the age of 16 is obtaining a driver’s license. The freedom to roam the open road and explore the world around you in most cases is a joyous occasion. At 16, a young inexperienced driver is constantly conveyed that driving is a privilege and one must use caution or that privilege will be taken away. However, over the past few years one of the growing problems in United States not only affects young drivers but drivers of all ages. Distracted driving is a growing problem in the United States that affects not only people of all ages but race, and gender as well.

Distracted driving is a major problem all over the world. Some people believe that making distracted driving against the law will help, but many people don’t take the law into consideration. People should be taught that distracting yourself while driving is serious and very life threatening to you, the people in the car with you, and the other individuals on the road. Many people lack the common sense to not use their phone while getting behind the wheel. There should be a class or warning when someone gets their license reminding them the hazards of being on your phone while

“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

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.

Distracted driving occurs when car drivers lose their attention and focus from the road by eating, texting, talking on the phone, doing their makeup, etc. This can be very easy to do in the busy world that we live in today. When a driver’s attention is taken from the road, they can easily get in an accident or cause others to get in serious accidents. These accidents often lead to injury or death. However, even if everyone survives or remains unharmed, it can cause a significant financial burden for car and road repairs. If this continues, the

Distracted driving has been a big controversy for a while, whether we should ban cell phone use, radios, touch screen controls, or even eating and driving. “Drive now. Text later. (Author Unknown) There are many different takes on this topic, which makes it difficult for us to discuss it.

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

Drivers are going to stop getting distracted while they are driving. In the future, people are going to be focused on driving. All of the drivers are going to put their effort into not getting distracted while they are driving. There are multiple things that drivers can do to prevent getting distracted. Some examples include turning off their phone, pulling over to pick something up and waiting until they arrive somewhere to fix their makeup. Teens driving their own cars are more likely to get distracted than those who share a car with others. For example, 20% of teens who share cars had texted while driving compared to 35% of teens with their own cars (Copeland). If this is not solved, people are going to continue to get injured or even die. Teenagers that are barely learning how to drive need to learn the dangers of distracted driving before they drive on the road. People need to be focused on driving so they can not get in a crash with someone else. Distracted driving is a big issue that needs to be fixed. There are plenty of dangers that can be prevented. There are a majority of people that have experienced distracted driving. Other people that are just walking down the street can also get injured or killed due to distracted drivers or even drunk drivers. If drivers stop distracted driving, the roads will be

Most people would be appalled at the idea of driving while drunk, but they wouldn\'t think twice about the idea of using a cell phone, eating a burger, or even putting on makeup while driving. Unfortunately, distracted driving may be risking just as many lives as driving under the influence of alcohol. In fact, according to a 2013 study, 26% of accidents include a cell phone distraction, and 80% of all accidents include at least one distraction. Distracted driving is a deadly epidemic, but it can also be prevented by individuals. Remember that you cannot react as quickly to avoid collisions or road hazards when your eyes aren’t fully focused on the road. Before you text a “lol” to your BFF from behind the wheel, remember that it might be the

We have made plenty of laws for distracted driving. There are 14 states that have made laws against hand held cellphone use while you are driving. Also 20 states prohibit cell phone use for bus drivers for the safety of the kids. There are 38 states that ban the cell phone use for novice drivers as well. We make all these laws for prohibiting different objectives while driving more than we try and teach people about the effect of distractions while driving.

According to a survey taken by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 52% of drivers on the road today feel at risk when driving compared to five years ago (teennick.com). AAA also cites that vehicle collisions as the biggest cause of death amongst teenagers ages 15 to 20. The United States Department of Transportation notes that cell phones that cell phones are involved in 1.6 million auto crashes each year that cause a half million injuries and take 6,000 lives (donttextanddrive.com). These distracted drivers are not only putting themselves at risk but they are putting every other driver and pedestrian on the road in the same life-threatening position without even realizing