Texting And Driving

Every day there are many that are killed from texting and driving. So many people get injured or even killed because of texting and driving. Several people are addicted to their phones, especially teens. Teens are obsessed with their phones, they are always waiting for some to text them back. Texting and driving is a distraction that everyone should avoid because it can result in injury or death to oneself or others. This may result in property damage, and the probability for one to receive legal consequences.

Texting and driving should be banned in all fifty states because texting is a distraction that keeps drivers away from the road. According to the book Brain Rules, while multitasking, research shows your error rate goes up 50 percent and it takes you twice as long to do things. (Cooper) Texting someone is nearly the same as talking on the phone, therefore, it’s an ongoing conversation. But driving is an ongoing action, excluding stop signs and stoplights as well. As a driver the main focus is the road. In order to send a text, the cell phone has to be the main focus. For example, if a driver is at a stop sign, receives a text, and decides to look down at the phone. The driver’s eyes, hands, and focus completely move toward the phone and not the road anymore, which is the main focus. With this situation, there are a number of things that can go wrong. Someone can switch lanes really quickly, a baby can walk out the street, a car could suddenly stop, etc. So any drivers, who plan on “multitasking” while driving, think twice before making that decision.

Furthermore, ‘texting in cars and trucks causes over 3,000 deaths and 330,000 injuries per year as stated by a Harvard Center for risk study’ (Hanson n.p.). Just imagine all the lives that could be saved from deaths or injuries if people stop texting while driving because it is a major distraction for them. There belief is that they can multitask, but the sad reality is that the brain cannot do that. The brain has to focus in a particular task at a time. In order to do things right or correctly. Pennings a highway patrol helped demonstrate teens that texting while driving is a dangerous action. He made several so called “ Professional Texters” pass several obstacles while answering text messages and the results were not pleasing at all, cones were flying. The questions asked were not hard, yet they still manage to make the driver lose focus from driving. This is why implementing a rigorous law would come in handy. People will reconsider the thought of many things while being in their vehicles such as texting,eating and drinking, watching videos, putting makeup or grooming, etc. The states have not yet implemented a good law they only prohibit it during school zones or if a police officer sees you, but that is not enough.

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

Through the improvement and enactment of primary vs secondary laws and the enforcement of the former, would help minimize the number of accidents and fatalities. Ferdinand et al (2014) concluded, “Our analyses indicate that primarily enforced texting laws are associated with fatality reductions among younger individuals, both drivers and nondrivers [sic]” (p. 1375). By enabling law enforcement to better enforce a primary law that bans the act of texting while driving, the high number of fatal accidents would decline. But, some, if not most people nowadays, particularly the younger generation, would not respond as well to heavily enforced laws with accompanying fines. So, there must be a more attractive, extralegal option to discourage those who continue to tempt fate and drive distracted.

Have you ever lost a close friend or family member from them texting and driving or someone else texting and driving? I am sure you have been one to text and drive also as much as we hate to admit it. Would you want to be the one who killed yourself or someone just because of that one text? I have personally known two young girls who have been killed from texting and driving. Both were on the same road exactly five months apart. Here is why I believe every state needs a no texting and driving law to ensure that our roads are safe from those individuals who insist on texting while driving.

Distracted driving is equivalent to the use of cell phones, laptops, games in the car, the use of radio system including an intense conversation with a passenger. Certainly the habit of using cell phones associated texting and driving is the worst distraction and cause thousands of deaths each year around the United State. Most states in the United States have begun to create different types of laws against this kind, but so far these laws have not been effective. According to the Department of Transportation studies in only 4 states (CA, LA, MN and WA) it showed that the low-level laws implementation against texting and driving contributed to an increase in the statistics of accidents and deaths attributed to texting and driving (2014 p. 1). The Department of Transportation states that this increase in numbers is associated to those people that have chosen to avoid being seen went using their electronic devices looking away for much longer after the laws was imposed, this cause major incidents on the road. In these same studies conducted by the Department of Transportation indicate that the implementation of more stringent laws decreased the number of accidents and deaths caused by texting and driving.

Some people might believe citations should not be given for texting while driving because they see it as just another activity to partake in while driving, such as doing your hair, or even changing the radio station. Some people seem to believe that they have it down packed; they put the cell phone up to the steering wheel and text. Drivers believe that using this method they are able to read ad respond to their messages as well as keep their eyes on the road. Drivers believe that they are actually helping others out and reducing the number of automobile accidents because they have their cell phone at eye-level. People may also believe that it’s the most effective way to communicate

Many people admit to texting while driving on a daily basis. Mostly everyone has either received, read, or responded to a text in their lifetime. In 2014, there were 3,179 people killed in an accident involving texting. (“The dangers of texting while driving”) Multiple people have died due to texting while driving or someone who was texting while driving. In the past 10 years texting while driving has been getting out of hand. Texting while driving should be illegal in every state because it can cause a fatal accident, texting while driving is getting worse every year, and it can take the life of an innocent person.

In my opinion, texting while driving can end very badly. When you drive, nothing should be in the vehicle that can distract you from the road. In today’s society everyone owns a cell phone. In fact, at any given time throughout the day, approximately 660,000 drivers attempt to use their cell phone behind the wheel. Phones make it easy for us to stay connected with the media. But this is an issue if someone

Saying things are dangerous is meaningless without the evidence and statistical support that backs the claims. A Federal Communication Commission to the House of Representatives produced multiple revealing statistical studies to present to the House in order to start considering a national law. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported in 2008 that driver distraction was the cause of 16 percent of all fatal crashes (Julius). In the 5,800 crashes created by distracted driving in 2008, 21 percent of those crashes resulted in a basic injury, and 515,000 people were wounded in serious injuries (Julius). Since 2008, more recent studies have been completed to more accurately show that distracted driving is truly a growing problem. A study by Virginia Tech Driving Institute revealed that those who resort to texting while driving are 23 time more likely to meet with an accident. According to a report by the National Safety Council, talking or texting while driving causes 28 percent of car accidents. The researchers at Virginia Tech also concluded that of all cellphone related tasks including talking, dialing, or reaching for the phone, texting while driving is the most dangerous. The large number of accidents and injuries are not surprising considering when texting, the driver’s steering capability goes

The recent and rising popularity of mobile devices has brought upon some unanticipated and highly dangerous consequences. Texting while driving is currently a growing trend, a national epidemic, and is quickly becoming one of the country’s top killers. Texting and driving should be illegal across the country because it can cause immense physical damage, has severe legal consequences, and is more dangerous than drunk driving.

The purpose of this proposal is to identify the measures that would be most effective at preventing people from texting and driving.

Texting and driving is a very dangerous habit that approximately 660,000 drivers attempt on a daily basis (Cell Phone Use). It has been one of the leading causes of many accidents and injuries. Technology is a very useful tool; however is can become a dangerous distraction for some. Today cellphones and technology have become addicting to society. Texting and driving is full of risks that can result in many consequences. This may include, hazardous and reckless driving, it can destroy families and ruin people's lives, but it can be prevented.

Therefore, the problem of texting and driving is a relatively new issue that has arisen around the world. Sending text messages is one of many functions that cell phones have. As technology develops and smart phones are becoming ever more prevalent, phones are introducing many more distractions to drivers beyond texting. Such distractions consist of checking Twitter or Facebook, playing games, browsing the web for the latest sports news, or sending an email to a coworker — the distractions are endless. Not to mention, the fact that cars are coming with built in Wi-Fi is in no way helping to focus the driver’s eyes on the road. This problem has began to creep into the court system of our country as there are numerous television commercials and roadside billboards for lawyers willing to represent victims of texting and driving related crashes. Very few strategies have been put in effect to prohibit texting and driving, but plans must be implemented soon to help save lives and reduce injuries from crashes caused by technologically impaired drivers.