Motorola invented the first “cellphone” in 1973, which was about the size of a football. Since then, cellphones have gotten smaller, faster, and smarter. Laws on government and state level have had to catch up with this rapidly changing market, and some success has been made. Since 1975, the average number of fatal car accidents among teens 16-19 has decreased about 40%. However, there is still room for improvement, as more than 50% of teens today admit to texting and driving. I believe that preventing texting and driving starts at a young age, and not when teens have their hands on their first cell phone and get behind the wheel. Preventing teens from texting and driving is not an easy task. Despite statistics and campaigns against texting
Although people of all age-ranges use their smartphone device daily, people are more concerned of those who are younger. Adults born before the 2000s were raised in a world and society that was not technology based, so seeing the first generation to experience it can be unsettling. It is quite evident that almost every teen has a smartphone, and will use it at any given opportunity. The problem is teenagers actually use it anytime, even if the time is not appropriate. Many teens from the ages sixteen through eighteen are receiving their driver's license, but have a hard time not using smartphones while driving. This causes great dangers to everyone else on the roads. In some cases, people have been in accidents caused by people texting while driving. Unfortunately, many individuals have lost their lives because of someone texting while driving. In Turkle's’ piece “Growing up Tethered” she includes student testimonials such as Roman’s. “Roman, eighteen, admits that he texts while driving and he is not going to stop. ‘I know I should, but it’s not going to happen. If I get a Facebook message or something posted on my wall . . . I have to see it. I have to’” (Turkle 236). Though teenagers are very aware of circumstances when texting while driving, that still does not stop them from doing so. The constant “need” of being connected with friends and others on social media is what keeps teenagers from not
In 2011, 23% of car accidents were caused from cell phones; that is 1.3 million crashes. That number has now rose to more than 1.6 million automobile accidents in 2014. In this century most Americans own a cellphone. 34% of Americans say that they have texted while driving. Although a vast majority of teens text while drive, they are not the only ones. 27% of adults admitted to texting and driving. This is a bigger problem than most people realize. Most children follow the example their elders set. This means, if your child or even sibling see that you are texting while driving, they are more likely to do it to. 48% of children the age 12-17 said they have been in a car while the driver was texting. Many states in America are working hard towards this problem. Thirty-nine states prohibit all drivers from text messaging, thirty-two states prohibit novice drivers from using a cell phone, and ten states prohibit the use of cellphones while driving. Florida has even stepped up to the plate in the fight against texting and
The act of sending electronic messages or texting is easily accessible to anyone that owns a cell phone. Often people are seen with the cell phone in one hand and texting while walking, eating in a restaurant with friends, working or shopping. It has become a part of everyday life. The convenience and the need to stay connected has made texting a useful method of communicating, that has increased dramatically with teenagers. “Adolescents report that texting is the most common way that they stay in contact with friends, sending an average of a hundred texts per day” (Delgado para. 1). This includes texting while driving. The effects of distracted driving from texting include legal penalties, increase in insurance premiums, motor vehicle crashes, and even death. Texting while driving has become a major problem in the United State and a simple LOL can have serious consequences.
Parents also don't help by trusting teenagers too much and assuming they'll drive responsibility when they hand them keys. Traffic safety said many parents assume that all teens should know how to operate vehicle once they compete drivers education training ( Fischer). Texting and driving is a big safety risk that can cause the driver and innocent bystanders to be killed or injured .The rules and lack of public awareness have been a huge issue , the law has not been aware or enforced a hard case to fix the issues of texting while driving.But recently , Lacking enforcement power , police and traffic - safety advocates have called for more education , law enforcement officers and state officials ( Fischer
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
One out four car crashes are caused by texting and driving. It has been proven that 94% of all teens acknowledge and agree that texting and driving is a very dangerous thing. However 32% admit to doing it anyway. www.edgarsnyder.com states, “660,000 drivers are attempting to use their phones while behind the wheel of an automobile.” This is an outrageously large number of people. This number needs to be reduced. “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. -50 reasons not to text and drive-”. Texting and driving should not be permitted on the road.
Plenty of people are losing their daughters, sons, or other family members because of either distracted driving or drinking and driving. Both are a big issue. Not only are people getting hurt, but parents also suffer when their children get into an accident. People do not think about the people they are hurting because of their actions. People need to take care and drive safely each time they are behind the wheel. Five seconds is the average time someone’s eyes are off the road while they are texting (“Facts and Statistics”). The majority of teens respond to a text message at least once or more every time they drive. Teens have the tendency of responding to a text message when they are driving or even when they are on their social media. Cell phone use while driving might be as or more dangerous than driving under the influence of
There are approximately 11 teen deaths each day because of texting and driving. It is clear that if people would stop texting, talking or using other apps on their phones while driving , then there would be fewer accidents. The number of teens dying from being injured has skyrocketed as a result of texting while driving. It is estimated that there are over three thousand teen deaths and three hundred thousand injuries nationwide. A recent study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute showed that drivers who are texting are two times more likely to crash or almost crash compared to those who are focused on the road. There are thirty nine states and the district of Columbia that ban texting for drivers on a statewide basis. A federal survey showed that there are ninety four percent of Americans that think texting and driving should be illegal. Clearly, car accidents have increased because of the use of cellphones while driving and something more must be done about this problem.
The number of teens who are dying or being injured as a result of texting while driving has skyrocketed as mobile device technology has advanced. Researchers at Cohen Children 's Medical Center in New Hyde Park estimate more than 3,000 annual teen deaths nationwide from texting and 300,000 injuries. The habit now surpasses the number of teens who drink and drive -- a hazard that has been on a dramatic decline in recent years, researchers say. An estimated 2,700 young people die each year as a result of driving under the influence of alcohol and 282,000 are treated in emergency rooms for injuries suffered in motor-vehicle crashes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Ricks)
The epidemic of people being injured or even killed because of careless driving is frightening. Often people aren’t taking into consideration when they are using their cell phone they aren’t only putting themselves, and the people in their car in danger, but all of the people and their families around them. Justin Bieber has been working closely with PhoneGaurd Inc to help end texting while driving. Justin talks about young “’Alex Brown’s family [who] lost her to texting while driving.’” “Working together with the [foundation] we hope to help teach teens and parents about the major risks involved with texting and driving so they don’t suffer the same loss’.”
Some teens believe that they can multitask in any situation.” Texting and driving has been banned many states and teens don't fully understand the risks about texting and driving.
Texting and driving is one of the easiest things a person can fix, but in the time we live in, it is almost impossible to separate someone from their phone.
Texting and driving has been a major cause for concern in recent years. According to the
Almost every day, hundreds of people die in car accidents while texting behind the wheel. There are many ways to prevent you from texting while driving. The safest way is to turn your phone on silent before driving your car. Then you can read your text messages after you finished driving. Texting while driving decreases your concentration, which gives you a higher chance of crashing your car. At least 50% of teens admit to texting while driving. Now cars have a car play that has a voice to text feature, so that you can text your friends without having to look at your phone.
Does it seem like everywhere you go people are preoccupied with texting? Often people are seen with the cell phone in one hand and texting while walking, in a restaurant eating with friends, working or shopping. It has become a part of everyday life. The convenience and the need to stay connected has made texting a useful method of communicating, that has increased dramatically with teenagers. According to Dr. Delgado, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at Perelman School of Medicine, “Adolescents report that texting is the most common way that they stay in contact with friends, sending an average of a hundred texts per day” (para. 1). This includes texting while driving. The effects of distracted driving from texting include legal penalties, increase in insurance premiums, motor vehicle crashes, and even death. Texting while driving has become a major problem in the United State and a simple LOL can have serious consequences.