Driving and Distraction In an age dominated by technology, an individual's cell phone is a very important device for the function of day to day tasks. Whether driving to the grocery store, driving to work, or driving to a friends house, chances are you have used your cell phone at least once while operating a vehicle, but is this dangerous? Simultaneously driving and the use of a cell phone is deemed illegal in many states under the presumption that it is a distraction to driving. This legislation is usually preconceived under the notion that the distraction comes from peripheral factors associated with the use of a cell phone and not the conversation on the cell phone itself. Past research measured individuals who were using a cell phone prior to an accident, but this questions validity. These individuals whom used a cell phone before an accident could be prone to more risky behavior on the road and not due to the use of the cell phone itself. Other research attempted to measure distraction with phone conversations, but relied on arithmetic, reasoning, and mental tasks, all which are not of a typical phone conversation. Research conducted in 2001 by Strayer and Johnston aimed to resolve these issues by measuring the extent in which the use of cell phone by conversation interferes with driving and the underlying factors for the interference. This research is of utmost importance because individuals could not only be putting their self at risk when using a cellphone while
While driving was developing into a more popular and affordable means of transportation, cell phone use was rapidly increasing in and out of automobiles. The combination of these technologies resulted in a large amount of cellular based distractions; consequently, they can cause serious injuries and in extreme cases death. In Cohen’s “Deadly Distraction” and Leone’s “Taking on Distracted Driving”, the authors discuss the severity of utilizing a cellular device while operating an automobile. Both of these articles were written to accomplish a similar objective: to inform the public of the negative effects on the community of distracted driving. Everyone in society is affected by distracted driving
Did you know that 21 percent of teen drivers involved in fatal accidents were distracted by their cell phones? Scary, huh? The authors of “Parents Share Son’s Fatal Message to Warn Against Texting & Driving”, “The Science Behind Distracted Driving”, and “How the Brain Reacts” discuss the risks of using cellular devices while driving. They claim that texting and talking on a cell phone while driving can be dangerous and lead to fatal accidents, and they use persuasive techniques to influence the reader.
Annotated Bibliography THESIS STATEMENT: The use of a cell phone while driving has been proven to be more dangerous than driving while legally intoxicated. The United States Government should ban all cell phone use while driving because it is a danger to public health. Centers for Disease Control. (2016). Distracted Driving.
“Distracted driving refers to any nondriving activity that takes motorists ' attention away from the safe operation of their vehicles” (Leone). Every time a driver gets in a vehicle and decides to use a cell phone to have a conversation, either talking or texting, they put themselves and others lives in danger. The convenience a cell phone and the capabilities they offer have made them a substantial distraction and a cause of significant source of vehicle accidents and fatalities. There are three different types of distractions: visual, manual and cognitive. Cell phone use is the most dangerous distraction because it involves all three different types of distraction and plays a part in the increasing issue of distracted driving. Even
1). Texting and using a cell phone are the two most common distractions while driving (“Distracted” para. 1). It Can Wait campaign has started to stop drivers from using handheld devices (“Distracted” para. 3). Distractions affect one’s driving performance (“Distracted” para. 5). Drivers are distracted around half the time they drive (“Distracted” para. 5).15% to 25% of crashes on all levels are caused by distraction (“Distracted” para. 5). Texting increases the driving risk, even more than regular cell phone use (“Distracted” para. 5). When cops fill out crash reports, the states should keep track of them (“Distracted” para. 6). There are many distraction while driving that may cause the driver to take focus off the road (“Distracted” para. 8). Some distraction that everyone does is : changing the radio or a CD, talking to passenger, and observing the event outside the vehicle (Distracted para. 8). There are effects on telematics on driving behaviors (“Distracted” para. 9). Some say that the electronic device companies need to inform the public about the real use of these devices (“Distracted” para.
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
Using a cell phone while driving has become the biggest manual distraction while driving. According to a study, conducted by The University of Utah (2013),
Therefore, we want to inform you about three deadly distractions found with cell phone use. One article (CDC et al., 2015), explains in simple terms, “There are three main types of distraction; visual, (taking your eyes off the road), manual, (taking your hands off the wheel), and cognitive, (taking your mind off of driving).” (para. 1). There are six variables with cell phone driving behaviors; all of which have a bleak end. According to researchers and predictors of distracted cell phone driving, Tian and Robinson (2016), “The data suggest that the attitude variable predicted intention to engage in all six distracted driving behaviors (reading and sending text message, making and answering cell phone calls, reading/viewing social media), and posting on social media while driving.” (para. 1). These behavior variables can lead to unsafe driving. Moreover, the law would be enforced on DWD violators.
In 2007, 64% of US adults admitted to texting while driving despite the fact that 89% approved of laws that would ban the practice (Richtel, 242). Cell phone users, even though they are aware that texting and driving is dangerous, continue to text behind the wheel anyway. In A Deadly Wandering, Matt Richtel demonstrates that most drivers simply cannot help but be distracted by their cell phones as a result of both behavioral and neurological factors.
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
I believe that driving while using a cell phone should be illegal. Driving while using a cell phone should be against the law because it is responsible for many accidents, creates distractions for the driver, and if an accident dose occur while driving it is very expensive to cover the damages created by the reckless driver. Cell phones are a major cause of the accidents that occur every day around the world. Driving while using a cell phone is one of the leading causes of accident related deaths, along with drinking and driving. The people inside and outside of the car can all be seriously injured or hurt if the driver is being irresponsible and using his or her phone while behind the wheel. For example when I was younger a car
Every time you get behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol you are attempting murder. This might sound crazy, but think about it, it is true. When you decide to get behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol, you not only put your life at risk, but you put every innocent person’s life at risk around you. There are five main reasons why you should not drive while under the influence, first your license can be suspended. second you will be faced with jail time or hefty fines, third you can lose your job, fourth you get a public record, and fifth you will have to live with guilt. According to cdc.gov, 10,265 people were killed in the year 2015 due to drivers driving while under the influence of alcohol, accounting for
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.
In the 21st century, technological advancements have had a profound impact on almost every aspect of people’s lives, especially in regard to the use of mobile phones. A sophisticated understanding of just how the use of cellular devices interfere with our cognitive process is an enduring interest due to its pertinence in modern society. According to research conducted by Redelmeier and Tibshirani, (1997) drivers who talk on their mobile phone are four times more likely to be involved in an accident than those who do not engage in cellular conversation. Statistics have also shown that an estimated 330,000 injuries caused by driving and 2600 fatalities of the annual car accidents can be attributed to the use of cell phones (Cohen & Graham, 2003). In this essay, the impact that mobile phones have on cognitive processes crucial to satisfactory driving capabilities will be explored, and it will be essentially argued that the interference that mobile phones have on the cognitive process necessary for driving effectively is detrimental. The empirical evidence from two studies will be used to support my thesis in which the driving ability of participants are tested in conjunction with mobile phone use. The first is Strayer and Drews’ (2006) study which compares the cell phone using driver to the drunk driver, essentially confirming a direct correlation between the two and thus supporting my thesis. The second study conducted by Kristen E. Beede and Steven J. Kass (2005) examined the
Hands free cell phone usage should not be used while driving based on evidence that shows that the use a cell phone while driving leads to more driving mistakes and overall lack of awareness (Sanbonmatsu et al., 2015). Drivers that use cell phones make more serious and minor errors, but cannot recall making these errors due to a lack of awareness. These drivers are more unaware of their inconsistent speed, placement in lanes and near accidents than those that are not using a cell phone. Additionally, these drivers are less likely to self-regulate their driving efficiently like drivers not using cell phones because of this lack of awareness. This reduction in self-regulation moreover leads to an increase in both minor and major errors (Sanbonmatsu et al. 2015). To determine this, Sanbonmatsu et al. (2015) gathered participants and split them into either a control/no cell phone group and an experimental/cell phone group. These participants were then tested in a driving simulator with the control group simply running through the simulator while the cell phone group called a friend or family member and had a conversation on a hands free device. The results of this experiment indicated that even though the control group did still make errors, they had more awareness of those errors than the experimental group, and made less serious errors than the experimental group.