Texting Impact

This dangerous conduct is observed amongst younger drivers as well. In a 2009 survey of 16 to 17 year olds, 26% confessed that they have texted while driving (Madden & Lenhart, 2013). The number of Americans who report being in a vehicle while a driver was texting, however, is even higher (Madden & Lenhart, 2013). Half of all American adults and teens aged 12-17 recall having been in a car in which the driver was texting (Madden & Lenhart, 2013). Just under half of all American adults (44%) and teens (40%) say that they have been a passenger in a car where the driver used a phone in a way that put themselves, or others, at risk (Madden & Lenhart, 2013). This shows that the effects of texting and driving span further than individual drivers and surrounding traffic, impacting the lives of many American passengers.

Many teens, so-called “younger generation”, seem too connected to their phones and have begun to text and drive. According to Sherry Turkle, “Roman, eighteen, admits that he texts while driving and he is not going to stop. ‘I know I should, but it is 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 429). Even though teens know that they are doing something wrong, they still do it because they think nothing will happen. Just because we have not experienced accidents, does not mean it will not happen. Just think of all the people who have said the same thing. They think accidents are a world away from their own reality. No one seems to think about what can happen to other people as well as themselves. Everyone should think of others because just a little glance on your

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

Imagine being blindfolded for the length of a football field while driving. This would not feel very safe, right? Well, five second is the average time your eyes are off the road while sending or reading a text. When traveling at 55 mph, that is enough time to cover the length of a football field. Plus, the average amount of time it takes to get into a crash is only three seconds. 11% of all drivers under 20 that were involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted. This age group has the largest population of distracted drivers. It is not just teens, adults are also breaking the law while driving. 49% of adults say they have been passengers in a car when the driver was sending or reading texts on their cell phone. Reaching for a phone, dialing, texting and other uses of portable devices increases the risk of getting into a crash by three times. As of 2011, about 60% of drivers use cell phones while driving. There is obviously a huge chance of getting into a wreck, whether you are the one texting or not. It is not just the decision to not text and drive, but the decision to refuse to get in a car where the driver has their cell phone

“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.” -Sharon Heit, mother of the victim of distracted driver. (https://www.pinterest.com) Texting while driving increases the risk of crashes and reduces one’s awareness and performance, also causing diversion of attention and decreases the ability to focus. As the use of devices while driving can be severely dangerous, there are countless ways to discourage this practice. For instance, being educated on the importance of safety, stricter laws and or punishments, or furthermore, using handheld free technology. By these taking place, texting and driving would become an important priority preventing drivers from causing

The danger of texting and driving by teens as well as adults is very disturbing. As we do our investigation, both groups know they should not text and drive, however overwhelmingly they do so anyway, despite the danger it seems as if they cannot resist. We now know that texting while driving is not just a teenage problem it is a World Wide problem. Each day, an average of more than nine people is killed and more than 1,060 injured in crashes caused by distracted driving, according to the CDC. In 2011, 3,331 people died in crashes involving a distracted driver, up from 3,267 in 2010, according to the Department of Transportation.

People text and drive for various reasons; however, it’s never more important than a life. Texting is becoming the most popular form of communication; leading to increased texting while driving percentages. Mobile communication is becoming more and more popular every year. Now, almost half of all teenagers admit to texting while driving (The Cons of Texting and Driving, 1). The age group committing the biggest proportion of “texting while driving” incidents is teenagers. The main reason is that they see this as socially acceptable. If everyone is doing it, they feel that it is the accepted norm. This is wrong. Drivers, including teenagers, should set a good example in not “texting and driving”. If enough abide by this rule, a reverse in the trend to text while driving may occur. Always remember to set a good example, especially for teenagers (Leon Neyfakh, 1).

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

Although some people say believe that cell phones are good in case of an emergency, the implementation of cell phones is distracting drivers and leading to increases in crash percentages, elevates the percentage of teen deaths and influxes in insurance rates of teen drivers. Distracted driving is a growing problem in today's society. It causes countless deaths every year. This problem has progressed over the years due to the progress in mobile devices. The advance of cell phones has made distracted driving even more of a problem. Texting and driving is a very common problem because of the progression of cell phones. Many people think that five seconds is the minimal amount of time that drivers take away from the road when they are trying to

Five-year-old Xzavier Davis-Bilbo was inspired to be a professional football player, until October 10th, 2010 when he struck by a young woman who was texting while driving. This tragedy left Xzavier paralyzed from the diaphragm down (Hosansky). That same year the National Safety Council released a statement that "28 percent of all traffic crashes, about 1.6 million crashes per year, involved drivers talking on their cell phones or texting" (Texting and Driving Don’t Mix). Young people are not the only culprits behind these calamities, but according to the 2010 Pew Research Center driving statistics, forty-seven percent of adults admitted to texting while only thirty-four percent of teenagers did the same (Collins). An overall ban on cell phone use while operating a vehicle will limit freedom individuals have in their car, but will increase road and highway safety for the mass public. Even though there will be resistance, the dangers of distracted driving should convince lawmakers to pass nationwide legislation against cell phone use while behind the wheel.

A recent study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute estimates that texting and driving takes away from the road for 4.6 seconds, the same amount of time it takes for a car to travel across a football field at 55 miles per hour. Since there are both positive and negative factors in driving, we are starting to realize more that driving can be extremely dangerous. This here shows that there are multiple issues and causes as to why driving is becoming such a problem. Imagine if this was your family member being at stake for someone else’s distractions.(Hypothetical).

Texting and driving is one of the most dangerous situations teens put themselves in. A study performed by the RAC Foundation shows that teens who text and drive have a slower reaction time by 35%. This reaction time is even slower than someone who is driving stoned or drunk (Tugend). Teens are putting their lives at risk when they get behind the wheel. As Tugend explains, teenager’s reaction time slows down significantly while sending a text. Teens need to learn to wait until they arrive at their destination to send texts or communicate on the phone. This form of multitasking has taken thousands of lives every year. As Adams comments, “Teens often think that texting and driving is not a problem...About 80% of US teens aged 16 to 17 years own a cell phone. More than half of US teens have talked on the phone while driving and about one-third report texting and driving” (Moreno 1172). The scary part about texting and driving is that so many teens think it is okay. They believe that everyone uses their phone so why should they be any different. Unfortunately, it sometimes takes a real life experience of them or someone they know getting in an accident for this to change. Texting and driving is just one of many forms of multitasking that can be very harmful and needs to

American teenagers are at high risk to engage in car accidents. Government data has shown that more than 4,000 teens loses their lives in a car crash, and a much higher number suffer great injuries. All of these incidents leads back to distracted driving. Teens are more likely to feel invincible and act irresponsible when driving a car; all because of a cell phone or other distractions. Texting and driving has become a new epidemic amongst American teens. This dangerous and reckless trend is forcing teens to pay the absolute price for a single text. Commercials featuring realistic car accidents caused by texting, are booming TV-channels and social media networks, to raise awareness of the actual consequences it can entail. Research, concerning

Statistics show that at least nine people are killed a day due to distracted driving and more than 1,000 people are injured a day due to distracted driving (“Texting and Driving”). “At any given daylight moment across America, approximately 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices while driving, a number that has held steady since 2010” (“The Dangers of Distracted Driving”). This technological phenomenon has carried over into every aspect of American’s lives that if one is not connected, that individual has a feeling of no longer being society. This causes people to text and drive in order to feel socially connected to society at all times. It is a common misconception that teenagers and young adults are at fault and to blame for the increased cell phone use on the roads. Studies show that out of all the age groups, people ages 65+ have been pulled over for texting and driving 14.4% more than any other age group. Whereas, young adults, ages 18-24, make up only 4.1% of the population pulled over for texting and driving, the lowest out of all age brackets (Morrow, William). That urge and feeling to pick up devices has hit closer to home in the state of New Hampshire.

A study conducted by the American Automobile Association showed that 34% of teens ages sixteen through seventeen admitted to being distracted behind the wheel because of texting. Another study also showed 40% of American teens say they have been in a car when the driver used a cell phone in a way that put people in danger. That’s almost half of American teens texting while in a car. Texting has become a social norm since the 2000’s due to the popularity of smartphones. The situation of driving and texting is increasingly becoming worse. Driving and texting is the worst thing can due. It’s even worse than drinking and