National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Around 90% of participants in a study on reception of PSAs understood the PSA "eyes on the road hands on the wheel" to mean either "stay alert" or "don't drive distracted" (US Department of Transportation, 2017). This implies that PSAs certainly get their message across when they are viewed. On average, at least 70% of participants recognized a seat belt PSA, so PSAs stick in the memory of those who view them (US Department of Transportation, 2017). According to the US Department of Transportation (2017), around 60% participants agreed that it was often or always necessary for dynamic PSA signs on roads. In addition, the majority of participants strongly agreed that it was very important to provide information on putting away mobile phones while driving. This shows that people are aware of the problem of distracted driving, and agree that awareness of this problem in others is extremely important. Finally, the participants were asked if would change their behavior if they saw a PSA that said "eyes on the road, hands on the wheel", "don't be a distracted driver", or "drive safely, text later it can wait". The overwhelming majority answered maybe, probably yes, or definitely yes (US Department of Transportation, 2017). PSAs do make a huge difference in driving behavior and give people a reminder of the consequences of distracted driving. The more immediate a reminder, the more it will affect your behavior, so PSAs on signs are even more effective than those viewed on television or in other advertising. PSAs are important parts of preventing dangerous behavior like distracted

Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience to avoid texting while driving so they will not get injured or injury someone else.

A Public Service Announcement (PSA) can help reduce the number of distracted driving accidents by explaining the horrible effects of distracted driving and the best ways to prevent distracted driving. Currently, the main source of distracted driving is cell phones. Cell phones cause a person to text, call, and use social media while driving; all factors that can be a deadly distraction while driving. A cell phone causes much distraction for the driver and may cause the driver to have a car crash that not only affects themselves, but also the surrounding people. As a community, we should be educating people about distracted driving in order to prevent the problem and decrease the number of accidents. Public Service Announcements are important as they provide people with evidence, resources to limit distraction while driving, and helpful/important information. Teenagers, children, and even adults will be able to be informed. Even though educating people through a Public Service Announcement is important, it might not be viewed by most people and will not be effective towards the younger viewers. Teenagers and even adults might dismiss a Public Service Announcement because the announcement does not grab their attention or because the person might not care.

In the rhetorical analysis that is observed in the PSA, pathos is the most exploited in the majority of these ads. As it graphically exalts the emotions with situations in which the spectator can clearly relate. This announcement in particular considers a dialog between a mother and a student seconds before an accident is caused by texting and driving. The mother questions if the student is aware that it is not in her lane, if she is texting, and requests emphatically that she pay attention to the road because her children are in the car with her. The student responds by justifying her actions but is mortified when she acknowledges what is about to happen. She does not have

Simply putting down your phone and paying attention to the road is a decision that not only could save the life of a driver but could save a whole family and community a whole lot of hurt. At any given time during the day approximately 800,000 people across the United States are on their phone while driving, which explains why texting is the number one distraction for teens across the country (Don’t Text and Drive-Volunteer Society of America). However, we can change this. Educating teens about the true risks of texting and driving just might save a life. Any text can

Although, in this PSA, the use of pathos is more effective than of the other two ethos and logos. Watching this short video of “The Danger of Texting & Driving, the audience observes a typical day of a teenage man tying his shoes, and a small child kicking a soccer ball. The intended audience may feel more sympathy for the kid, because of what is going to occur next, and of the innocent expression on his face, as he was kicking the soccer ball around. While the teenage boy was driving, he suddenly got a text message from his friend. The use of foreshadowing allowed the audience to guess of what was about to happen next. Not knowing the boy was kicking the soccer ball around

Texting and driving was and continues to be one of the major factors of car accidents in America’s population. In the following advertisement named, “Phone in one hand, Ticket in the other” it is noted that texting and driving are frowned upon in our society, and the authorities are giving citizens tickets for texting and driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had created and promoted this ad to help decrease car accidents involving texting and driving, by informing the reader, you will be ticketed if you are caught being on your phone while driving a vehicle. The ad was first campaigned April 2015 by NHTSA. There are two messages being portrayed in this advertisement. First, the text of the ad, gets the audience thinking about two possible consequences of texting and driving. Secondly, the images demonstrate what may take place if you are using a cell phone while on the road. Lastly, both the text and images work together to get the message across that if you are caught texting and driving, you will be ticketed, and the use of a cellular device while driving can lead to a car accident. The, “Phone in one hand, Ticket in the other” ad successfully portrays its reasoning for being invented, and I believe the presence of this ad will decrease the amounts of accidents in America.

Automobile crashes as a result of texting while driving is an epidemic that has taken over the nation in the past years. In today’s society, people have become more and more dependent on technology as everyday uses. How many can honestly say that they have text and driven? How many have had to swerve, stop on the brakes or almost gotten into an accident because of it? Texting while driving is the most common thing that almost everyone has done or seen. The main issue and threat is that people think they can safely type on their phone while driving; while others simply do not think there is any real danger with that act. Today, it is all about convenience; but the cost for this convenience can be very deadly. Studies show that any

So many other advertisements relied on the statistics of accidents occurring from texting while driving that it was viewed as a sort of failed tactic. It does utilize, however, logical reactions from the characters witnessing the car crash. This realistic situation is logical to viewers everywhere. In four short minutes, the video creates an emotional attachment to each of the characters. There are people of color, men, women, children—someone for everyone to relate to. For example, the man driving his truck sounds hopeful about the future while speaking with his wife. When these characters are suddenly thrown into this violent situation, many viewers may feel upset. AT&T is a well-respected cell phone company who could easily encourage as much cell phone usage as possible in order to gain more money from activities such as data usage, but instead promoting safety. This proves gives the author credibility by showing the audience that even such a large company truly cares about the well-being of the general public. The fact that they are working so hard to discourage texting while driving speaks volumes about the company’s

The importance of texting while driving should be addressed to anyone obtaining a valid driver’s license and can operate a vehicle. This particular proposal should develop a direct impact on life because it gives people a chance to see what can happen if a person continue to text and drive. People really need to understand how easily it is take the life of someone else or even themselves. And most of the time in many cases relating to this particular problem, it is always is the age groups ranging from 16 years of age to 30 years of age. I wish that this problem can get resolved quickly to avoid many accidents and death. Some

This method is using a personal experience of someone who was involved in a distracted driving incident in the PSA. This is a very clever way to make a PSA effective, because often times people can relate to other people who were involved in an incident. Whether they had a family member who was involved, or they were the driver who caused the incident, there are plenty of distracted driving stories out there that are waiting to be shared. Fox9.com shared a “heart-wrenching” story of a man who caused a distracted driving incident by looking at his phone for only a short time. By the time that dump truck driver Frank Rychtik looked at the road once again, it was too late.

When many think of distracted driving, they automatically recognize texting behind the wheel as the main factor, which is true. However, distracted driving comes in all kinds of forms such as talking on the phone, eating, and even grooming (like applying makeup) when driving. Doing such simple tasks can take away your focus from the road, which can lead to devasting consequences of being in an accident (that can even prove fatal to you or others). As according to the NHTSA, an estimate of 387,000 people were injured in accidents involving distracted drivers in 2011, and the number rose higher in 2012 by increasing by 34,000. Can the Public Service announcement prevent these numbers from rising any more? Launching awareness campaigns and educating

V: Conclusion: Therefore according to the facts and statistics that were shown previously, people that are still texting while driving might think that they can juggle these big frames of steel they drive every day, with devices like their cell phones without paying the price, are greatly mistaken! First off, no one can say that texting while driving is not one if not the most dangerous action one can do behind a motorized vehicle. What can refute that problem that seems all around us whether commuting or not. Consequently due to the nature of the cell phone use while behind the wheel drivers should not have permission under any circumstance to text while driving. Regardless of the stance every individual takes on this matter, people need to realize the importance of this issue and implement the good driving behaviors. As

There are many topics in the news everyday about how texting while driving is affecting the population today. The actions that officials are taking are helping us to become and stay a safer driver. Many of the

Specific Purpose: To persuade the audience that texting while driving is a dangerous task they should not partake in.