Research Paper On Distracted Driving

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.

In this article “Distracted Driving”, many distractions are mentioned other than just cell phone usage, such as changing the radio station or driving with kids in the back seat. It is stated that the dangers from distracted driving are because of the decrease in brain function and inability to pay full attention to the road. These practices lead to wrecks and in many cases death.

The US Department of Transportation mentions that distracted driving is any “Activity that could divert a person 's attention away from,¨ driving ("Facts and Statistics") For instance, reading a book, texting, listening to the radio, and eating are examples of distracted driving ("Facts and Statistics").

“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,” (Heit). This specific quote shows how the results of distracted driving not only affects you, but also those around you. Distracted driving has been a serious concern for many years. This subject has been an issue because of the dangers it brings to the safety of others. One major type of distracted driving includes texting and driving. which is becoming more popular in today’s society because many have cell phones. Another type of distracted driving is drinking and driving, this continues to stay a topic for many years. Although drinking and driving and texting and driving carry many similarities with the

In this essay it will talk about what distracted driving is and the dangers of distracted driving. Distracted driving is the act of driving while enabling yourself into other activities and not paying attention to the road or others around you. Since cars have been invented distracted driving has been around in society. People say that distracted driving is the new drunk driving, it is actually supposably more dangerous the drinking and driving. Also they say the more a distracted driver drives with the distraction the more they get comfortable with it, then the more it happens. It is hard to prevent distracted driving since it is temporary, they usually do the distraction for a short period of time then put it away. Distracted driving is very selfish and wrong, people who are distracted drivers pretty much are telling everyone else on the road that them and their wants are more important than their own life or other drivers on the road’s life. Distracted driving can affect any age groups, but typically it is the younger age groups between the ages of fifteen to twenty-nine. Truth is though everyone some point in time in their life has been a distracted driver. Ten percent of all drivers fifteen to nineteen are involved in fatal crashes revolved around distractions. There are many ways you can get distracted while driving such as cognitive distractions, which is when your mind is not focused on driving, then there is visual distractions which is when you the driver is looking at anything besides the road, auditory, which is like when your music is too loud or responding to a ringing device, lastly the final type of distraction is manual distraction which is when you take one or both of your hands off the wheel for any specific reason. Some things that are considered distracted driving are smoking, eating or drinking, adjusting your radio or climate settings, adjusting seat belts or mirrors, talking to your passengers, using an electrical device such as a GPS or a cell phone, also just getting lost in your own thought. Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of deaths, also it is usually caused by cell phone use. Eleven teens die every day as a result of texting while driving. Kansas is was of the

Distracted driving is one of the fastest growing problems in the United States.   It is starting to be considered as serious as drunk driving based on the dangerous outcomes.  According to the Department of Transportation (2012), “distracted driving was a cause of roughly 450,000 accident-related injuries and nearly 5,500 fatalities in 2009 alone” (para. 1). Drivers who allow themselves to become distracted while driving are not only endangering themselves, but other innocent bystanders.

Distracted driving is one of the top causes of car accidents. In today’s society, we are so consumed in our phones, radios, mirrors, and food that we lose focus of what is most important at the time. While it may seem like just a moment when we take a peek at our text message, all it takes is one second to lose control of your vehicle. Engaging in other activities while driving not only puts your life at risk, but others in the car and on the road as well. Luckily, there are a few measures that can be taken to prevent being distracted while driving.

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.

According to the article “Distracted Driving: Stay Focused On The Road” the definition of distracted driving is the “practice of driving a motor vehicle while engaged in another activity, typically one that involves the use of a mobile phone or other electronic device.’’ Many people think that distracted driving is just looking down at your phone but this article shows that there are actually 3 types and they each can be dangerous. The first type of Distracted Driving is visual distractions. This is something outside the vehicle that causes you to take your eyes off the road. The second type is manual distractions. This is something that is inside your vehicle that causes you to take your hands off the wheel. The last type is

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).

Most people you know and love drive a car. Most people you know and love get distracted from time to time. While over “424,000 people a year are injured from distracted driving, 3,000 people a year are killed from an incident” (Snyder 1). This could be those people you know and love. It could very well be yourself. Since distraction is a huge problem while driving, people blame cell phones, but there are other causes of distraction, so a solution would be to focus on manual (controllable) distractions. To understand distracted driving, the first step is to know what is included in that term.

Distracted driving is much more than texting or talking on the phone. It involves alcohol/drug usage, speeding, reading, putting on make-up, focusing on other places rather than safe driving. Unfortunately many people do not fully appreciate the possible consequences of unsafe driving. A vehicle

Texting and driving is extremely hazardous to a persona the people surrounding them. The lives of innocent people are taken every day, due to a simple mistake of looking or reading a text message. Texting while driving, itself is extremely dangerous, but what’s even more surprising is that researchers are connecting it with drunk driving. Driving while texting is the second leading causes of death or injury on the road, drunk driving being the second. If more people are aware of how closely related drunk driving and texting are then they would probably stop. Texting while driving puts many driver’s lives in danger daily. Many people feel that staying connected to what’s outside of their distance is more important than focusing on the road ahead, although it isn’t. Texting while driving can harm others and the driver itself. If people would open their eyes to the dangers of texting while driving, less car accidents would take place every year and the roads would be much safer. Distracted drivers need to know the position they put others in as well as themselves. It’s very unfortunate to see anyone getting killed due to texting while driving or are just a product death of it. While behind the wheel, drivers should never direct their attention to their cell phone and should always keep their eyes on the

Distracted driving is anything that takes your attention away from driving, whether it be visual, manual, or cogitative in nature. Things such as eating, talking, using a car’s navigation system, texting, etc., are examples of distracted driving.

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