Persuasive Essay On Texting While Driving

In 2016, Subaru rolled out an “I’m Sorry” commercials which aims towards the safety and reliability of their vehicles. This paper will cover how recents teen driving statistics might have caused Subaru to roll out this commercial. Subaru’s “I’m Sorry” commercial, shows teens calling their parents after they get in car accidents. The teens phone their fictional parents using a consistent message that they are “sorry.” The parents respond saying it’s okay, your safety is all that matters. Subaru’s clear intent in these commercials is to reach out to worried parents. This paper examines the ethos, logos, and pathos of this commercial. This paper will also explain how teen driving statistics have had an impact on both parents and car companies.

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.

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).

Texting and driving are activities that separately are indispensable in everyday life, but together represent one of the greatest dangers society faces on a daily basis, from the moment the car starts and transits to the desired destination. It is so easy to look at the phone while driving! Everyone justifies themselves, “it’s just a second”, but everyone also knows, that only takes a second to have a fatal accident. This is why there is the need to raise public awareness and campaigning as in the Public Service Announcement, “Don’t text and drive”, produced and air on TV by News Channel 6 ABC, where the Pathos appeal in the most powerful rhetorical device used in the PSA and Logos and Ethos are also visible, but they are inferred rather than directly enlisted.

Texting and driving is more dangerous than it seems, taking your eyes off the road for even a few seconds anything can happen. Many innocent lives have been taken by distracted driving. The Public Service Announcement “Don’t text and drive”, displays a teenage girl driving in the car with some friends. The girl then receives a text from her mother that reads “You know when you’ll be back tonight?” As the girl proceeds to text back she doesn’t realize she begins drifting into the oncoming traffic lane, where a young lady is driving with her two children. Before the two cars collide, time stops and the drivers get out to conversate. Once they get back in time begins to move again and the cars wreck. In the PSA “Don’t text and drive” Produced by TranterGrey Media, pathos stood out over ethos and logos. Pathos is used more effectively element in this video.

Every American in the U.S has an addiction of being on a phone while driving. The Public Service Announcement (PSA), “The Danger of Texting & Driving” presents an American teenager texting and driving. This PSA shows and explains what can happen when a person is in a vehicle and on a mobile device. As mentioned previously this video demonstrates what consequences can happen as a result of any American simply looking at his or her phone while driving. However, this short video also can teach and demonstrate why anyone should not get on anything that will cause a distraction to the person who is operating the vehicle. In the PSA, “The Danger of Texting and Driving” filmed by Blue Lobster Productions, the video uses pathos which overshadows both ethos and logos regarding the subject of texting and driving.

A very effective piece of propaganda in that it captures the reader’s attention successfully by placing a picture of a child in the focal point of the advertisement. The child plays a vital role in this piece of propaganda in that it represents a loved one, family member and anything cherished. It shows what could be left behind, if a driver chooses to ignore safe driving. Choosing a sorrowful child’s face, further enhanced the emotions of the reader, as the advertisement would not have the same effect if an adult was shown instead. The advertisement also suggests that the driver has been negligent in his/her duty of care toward their family. This also instigates a number of feelings in the viewers mind about their family, and the result to their loved ones.

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.

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 advertisement utilizes pathos to demonstrate the consequences we go through when having distractions while driving. The image shows how another person is yet again the victim of a cellular device. The ad tries to convince us that it’s not too late to take action in hope that a tragedy like this doesn’t occur. In conclusion, a habit like this is hard to overcome but with time we will make better choices, choices that are capable of saving our

In an attempt to bring awareness about distracted driving to viewers, AT&T has decided to show a different perspective about the issue. Drivers who chose to display reckless behavior while driving are often viewed as careless, and irresponsible. However, many times even a responsible, caring person can make a bad decision and become distracted. This moment of bad judgment can lead to a tragic accident that will affect all those involved. The commercial The Unseen by AT&T used in their It Can Wait campaign is effective in getting their message across. Through the use of scare tactics and people’s emotions AT&T’s commercial; The Unseen is effective because it gets drivers to think twice before becoming distracted behind the wheel.

Shot to aim directly at people who tend to disregard warnings and are most like to be distracted drivers, texting and driving PSA’s bring awareness and self consciousness to the general public as they display from moderate to severe graphic scenes on what happens when you take your eyes off of the wheel. A distracted driving PSA ad is not only one of the best ways to alert people of the consequences of unfocused driving, but it can also reduce the number of distracted driving incidents, thus keeping families not only careful and alert, but alive and safe.

AT&T gains their audiences attention by appealing to the use of logic and emotions throughout the commercial. The commercial is meant to demonstrate the dangers of distracted driving and the possible results. The results are supported by rhetorical devices and strategies. The author communicates the dangers of distracted driving through their use of ethos, logos, and pathos.

The creators of this commercial grasp the hearts and minds of their audience by first bringing out a situation and people who can relate to the common driver, then second exposing them to the extreme consequences of texting and driving, while also setting the mood with appropriate music. By appealing to the emotions of the audience so strategically, the producers carry out an attempt to impact the actions of any drivers who may view their video and change how they view distracted driving in their personal

Blue Hive’s and the Department of Transportation’s advertisements both clearly state their incentive: texting and driving is a trend that must be halted. Both achieve their objectives by incorporating blunt, substantial messages and symbolic images of death, danger, and guilt. The ultimate objective for both parties is that drivers of all ages should not engage in distracted driving. Both advertisements simply want viewers and drivers alike to envision the inevitable consequences associated with distracted driving in hopes of thwarting families from grieving the loss of their loved