Distracted Driving : The Causes Of Cell Phone Use While Driving

Driving”. Distracted driving is any activity that diverts your attention away from driving. This may include texting/talking on the phone, eating and drinking,

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.

A distracted driver is anyone who diverts their attention from driving by either talking or texting, talking or performing any other multitasking activity on a mobile device while driving. on a mobile device eitherRegardless if the device is a hand-held hands on or hand-freeoff or multitasking while driving. All distractions are dangerous, but text messaging is the most hazardous because it requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver (Distraction.govDistracted Driving, 2013). Regardless of the ageage, sex, or expertise of a driver; a distracted driver is a danger to society. When we drive distractedFor the distracted driver, the result is the same, and it is just an accident waiting to happen. The fact is that, and the growing number of life changing accidents is inis on the rise. This practice does not only affect the driver but “all distractions endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety” (Distracted Driving, 2013).

Distracted driving has been the most recent cause of accidents on the road presently. Of course there are many other reasons why drivers get into accidents, but it is mainly because they get distracted. Police in El Cerrito, California even gave more than 600 citations in April to drivers for distracted driving violations (“El Cerrito”).Also,“nearly 6,000 people were killed and a half-million injured last year in the U.S. due to drivers being distracted”(“Distracted”).Distracted driving today causes many accidents through the use of technology, eating and drinking, and children in the backseat.

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.

"Distracted driving is not only texting, it can be a combination of many things. Anytime you take your focus off the road you are considered a distracted driver"(Teddi Dineley). "Each time you take your focus off the road, just for a second, you’re putting your life and the lives of others in danger" (Teddi Dineley). As stated in the article, “Distracted Driving: Stay Focused When on the Road,” written by Teddi Dineley Johnson, driving a car is a very complex task.

Distracted driving has been a problem ever since driving has been around. Distracted driving can come in many different forms such as texting, talking on the phone, eating and drinking, grooming oneself, changing the radio, and holding

Visual, manual and cognitive distractions that occur simultaneously while driving are a recipe for vehicular related fatalities involving American teenagers, and often times unsuspecting victims as a result (Harvard Men’s Health Watch, page 6). Hand-held cell phones involve visual distraction while dialing, manual distraction while holding the phone, and cognitive distraction throughout the whole use of the device (Harvard Men’s Health Watch, page 7). Informing old drivers and introducing new drivers to the dangers of being distracted while driving may raise support in preventing the use of hand held devices while driving. If our

391,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers in 2015.” TeenSafe also said that “teen drivers from ages 15 to 19 are in the age group most at risk to be involved in distracted driving accidents. Nine percent of these teens are involved in distracted driving fatalities.” With driving being a new experience to teens, not only to they face the risk crashing due to lack of time on the road but introducing a cell phone while in a car increases their risk of crashing by 400%. Many teens become a new mode of transportation for their friends who are unable to drive or don’t have a car. Though teens are most at risk, adults drive distracted as

Distracted driving is when people concurrently operate a vehicle and engage in non-driving actions that could redirect their attention away from the task at hand, driving. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2009, 450,000 people were wounded and 5,500 people died in car accidents in which distracted driving was a component (Ferdinand, Menachemi, 2014). Although cell phones have become very popular in recent years, a vehicle is not the place for them because the driver could injure himself/herself or another person. They could also get into a car accident, or they could even be pulled over by the police because it is illegal in many states.

Distracted driving comes in all shapes, sizes and forms. By definition, “Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person's attention away from the primary task of driving. All distractions endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety” (distraction.gov). “But, because text messaging requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver, it is by far the most alarming distraction” (distraction.gov).

As mentioned, distracted driving is a rising epidemic caused by the rapid growth of smartphone addiction caused by social media. While operating a smartphone, drivers are physically & cognitively distracted. Multitasking is in impossible because the brain can only fixate on so much. Undeniably, young adults and teens are more likely to handle their phone without reservation while they are driving, creating a high risk for the effects of distraction. Despite the convenience of hands-free devices, it is not a solution and is a serious distraction that causes a delay in reaction time, consequently putting these and other drivers at risk for a crash.

As cell phones become more popular, texting while driving is becoming the most widely known cause for car accidents among teens. The alarming rate of incidents where texting is involved is getting more parents worried and warning their children about the danger of texting while driving. Parents are urging the fact that drivers should pay attention to the road and traffic, not their phones. A popular study of 18 to 24 year old drivers showed that 66 percent of them have texted while driving. Since texting while driving is becoming more popular many states are passing a law to ban the use of any cell phone device while in a vehicle. Texting while driving is an important issue that is causing many deaths and those who cause these deaths and

Distracted driving is when a person is driving and not focusing on the road and there surroundings. “The act of driving while engaged in other activities”. Types of activities done while driving takes drivers focus off of the road. Which makes driving very dangerous for the drivers, the passengers, and every bystander. Distracted driving is very risky and is known to lead to fatal car crashes. Methods of reporting distracted drivers are improving, but current estimates likely underestimate how often distracted driving causes crashes. According to the NHTSA, over 3,331 people were killed and over 387,000 injured in motor vehicle accidents due to people driving distracted. That means 10 percent of all fatal crashes, and 17 percent of all accidents that caused injuries are due to people driving while distracted. Young drivers are at the greatest risk for distracted driving incidents. According to the United States Department of Transportation, "text messaging while driving creates a crash risk 23 times higher than driving while not distracted." Despite these statistics, more than 37% of drivers have admitted to sending or receiving text messages while driving, and 18% admit doing almost every time they drive. Manual distraction is also dangerous. Manual distraction is when the driver takes one or both hands off the wheel for any reason. Some common examples include eating and drinking in the car, adjusting the GPS, or trying to get something from a purse or wallet from some place out of reach.

Distracted driving happens when a person is operating a vehicle and partakes in a different activity that divides his/her attention. This usually happens when someone is using an electronic related device. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and other agencies there are three specific subtypes of distracted driving: visual, manual, and cognitive. (Distracted Driving, 1). Visual distractions occur when a driver takes his or her eyes off the road. Manual distractions occur when a driver takes his or her hands off the steering wheel, and cognitive distractions occur when a driver’s focus and/or attention are divided between driving and other tasks. (Distracted Driving, 1) Texting and driving ensues all 3 of these distractions. First, visually when you first receive the incoming message and your phone lights up, causing you to take your eyes off the road and look to see who it’s from. Then, manual the act of picking up your phone to respond, moving your hands off the wheel to partake in a different