Texting And Driving: An Unrestrained Dog In A Moving Car

We all are probably aware that texting and talking on the phone is a distraction to all drivers and can be very dangerous. Also, we all know there are many other distractions besides texting and driving, and any type of technology can cause a driver to be distracted. Forty-one percent of all drivers use their hands to text in the car while driving, according to Greg Gardner (52). It can cause people to forget about pedestrians or their surrounding areas. People who are distracted often aren’t focused and don’t have both hands on the wheel. According to Bryan Wilson, people may say that cell phones are easy to be pointed out as a problem, but statistics show the damage cell phones can do to a person while they are driving (6). According to Simon Usborne, time spent not looking at the road while talking on the phone is 15% of the time (68). Also, while texting and driving the time spent not looking at the road is 30% of the time (Usborne 69). As technology improves more and more people may feel the need to use their cell phones while driving. According to Melissa Healy, cell phone use can be as dangerous as drunk driving (42). Tests should be done to compare the various ways of sober people under the influence driving also to compare the impact of texting and driving. This would give us a better understanding of just how dangerous driving and being on our phone really is.

“Distracted driving refers to any nondriving activity that takes motorists ' attention away from the safe operation of their vehicles” (Leone). Every time a driver gets in a vehicle and decides to use a cell phone to have a conversation, either talking or texting, they put themselves and others lives in danger. The convenience a cell phone and the capabilities they offer have made them a substantial distraction and a cause of significant source of vehicle accidents and fatalities. There are three different types of distractions: visual, manual and cognitive. Cell phone use is the most dangerous distraction because it involves all three different types of distraction and plays a part in the increasing issue of distracted driving. Even

Virgin Islands prohibit all drivers from using cellphones while driving.  The next law is the All Cell Phone ban.  Thirty-eight states and D.C. ban all cell phone use by teen drivers, and twenty-one states and D.C. prohibit any cell phone use for school bus drivers.  The final law is the Text Messaging ban.  Forty-seven states, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands ban text messaging for all drivers (Essex).  Amazingly, people still disobey the laws and continue to text and drive.  Crossing the center-line and hitting an eighteen-wheeler while texting is a great way to die.

Being the cause of a cell phone related accident can leave a person unable to handle the consequences of their actions. There is great concern regarding the dangers of distracted driving. This is made evident by legislation that has been put in place in the United States. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (2011), nationwide, 34 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam have enacted texting bans. Current data from the National Safety Council (2010) suggest that each year, at least 1.6 million traffic accidents (28% of all crashes) in the United States are caused by drivers talking on cell phones or texting. The U.S. Department of Transportation (2011) states that nine states, the District of Columbia, and

According to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), twenty states have banned handheld devices. Most states have already made texting illegal. I believe that making texting illegal is a start to a greater change, but more action needs to be taken. For example, the other thirty states need to work toward enforcing laws that ban texting for all drivers -- not just novice drivers, school bus drivers, etc. (GHSA). In regards to texting, Washington was the first state to pass a texting ban in 2007. This is a step in the right direction, but more states of this Nation need to be moving forward like Washington

A distracted driver is anyone who diverts their attention from driving by either talking or texting, talking or performing any other multitasking activity on a mobile device while driving. on a mobile device eitherRegardless if the device is a hand-held hands on or hand-freeoff or multitasking while driving. All distractions are dangerous, but text messaging is the most hazardous because it requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver (Distraction.govDistracted Driving, 2013). Regardless of the ageage, sex, or expertise of a driver; a distracted driver is a danger to society. When we drive distractedFor the distracted driver, the result is the same, and it is just an accident waiting to happen. The fact is that, and the growing number of life changing accidents is inis on the rise. This practice does not only affect the driver but “all distractions endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety” (Distracted Driving, 2013).

texting while stopped at a traffic light; the law was previously meant to stop phones from

Nearly everyone is using cell phones in their day routine lives. Cell phones have now become less of a novelty and more of a communication tool providing many utilities all in one package, from camera, video games, internet and apps; they combine business and personal convenience.

Using a cell phone while driving has become the biggest manual distraction while driving.  According to a study, conducted by The University of Utah (2013),

Distracting driving is a common occurrence with modern day drivers. Due to technological advances making electronics so easy to use on the go, many find themselves spending more time looking at their cell phone or navigation system than they do looking at the road. According to the NHTSA, distracted driving claimed the lives of 3,477 people in 2015 alone. Texting and driving is a common distraction, especially when it comes to the younger generation of drivers. Young drivers are oblivious to the dangers of what seems like such a harmless act. Studies have shown that one 1 in 4 accidents are caused by texting and driving. The number of people injured from distracted drivers in 2015 was 391,000. Over half of the nation’s car accidents are a result of texting and driving. Whereas drinking and driving may kill more people, the leading cause of car accidents is in fact texting and driving.

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

As cell phones become more popular, texting while driving is becoming the most widely known cause for car accidents among teens. The alarming rate of incidents where texting is involved is getting more parents worried and warning their children about the danger of texting while driving. Parents are urging the fact that drivers should pay attention to the road and traffic, not their phones. A popular study of 18 to 24 year old drivers showed that 66 percent of them have texted while driving. Since texting while driving is becoming more popular many states are passing a law to ban the use of any cell phone device while in a vehicle. Texting while driving is an important issue that is causing many deaths and those who cause these deaths and

Texting while driving has now become an even more bigger issue and is done more often than driving under the influence. There were 109,658 traffic crashes in Texas involving distracted driving—up 3 percent over 2015. More than 3,000 people were seriously injured as a result, and 455 died. These crashes were highest among new and younger drivers ages 16 to 34. Distracted driving not only includes texting but also, eating, looking at social media, grooming, or even changing the song on the radio. Many people do it because they feel that they are experienced drivers but even the most experienced can potentially cause an

Distractions when utilizing a cellular telephone is becoming extremely prevalent in present day. A cell phone is a telephone with access to a cellular radio system so it can be used over a wide area without a physical connection to a network. In 1843, Michael Faraday, studied to see if space could conduct electricity. In the year of 1865, Dr. Mahlon Loomis was the first person to communicate through wireless atmosphere. He came up with the idea of transmitting and receiving messages through atmosphere as a conductor. Then, in 1973 Martin Copper, came up with Motorola and by 1977 the first cell phone was made in Chicago. While this paper shows the distraction of cell phones, many people understandably wonder how this risk compares to other

Accompanied by furry friends usually eases your mind, but traveling transforms them into a hassle rather than a cuddly support system. Ensure that pets tag along for the right reason; if they are more comfortable and content staying at home, please leave them there! However, when there is no other option but to bring your meowing, barking or hissing creatures along, here’s the low-down on safely taking animals in the sky or long journeys across roads.