The Death Of the 21st Century Technology has become a huge part of our daily lives. Almost every task we complete involves cell phones. There are apps for virtually everything; alarms, paying bills, checking grades, shopping. I’m sure everyone can agree that advanced technology has made lives easier in the sense of work and the effort put into things. But has it been taken too far? Is technology completing too much of the work for us? Like everything else technology has its positive and negative effects. If you own a smart phone everything you need is lying in the palm of your hand. Being “plugged in” at all times everywhere we go has created potential risk. Social networking has opened doors to new forms of social interaction and education changing traditional and old school ways of learning and meeting new people. Since the advancement of technology there has been a rise in the obesity rate. Near Death experiences, and car accidents due to texting and driving has become way too common in today’s society. Have you ever been in the car behind the wheel and received a text or call and had the urge to take a quick look at your phone? Teens especially, feel that a simple text like “I’m here” cannot wait. Handing a cell phone to a person behind the wheel can be like-minded to giving a suicidal person a gun. Cell phones have the power to completely distract drivers causing them to get in wrecks that they have no control over because their brains are so centered on what’s
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
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
In the article, “Dead Girl’s Parents Warn Students to Buckle Up and Stop Texting,” shows that texting while driving is hazardous and very real when Alex Brown, age 17, died due to result of texting while driving while not wearing a seatbelt. The parents of Alex Brown, Johhny Mac and Jeanne Brown, appeared in front of an audience of hundreds of Clyde middle and high school students, to educate young people about Alex’s accident and how easily it could have been prevented. Texting while driving impacts the lives of those around you. A single distraction while driving, as small and simple it may seem such as texting, can lead to the death of loved ones.
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
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
Automobile crashes as a result of texting while driving is an epidemic that has taken over the nation in the past years. In today’s society, people have become more and more dependent on technology as everyday uses. How many can honestly say that they have text and driven? How many have had to swerve, stop on the brakes or almost gotten into an accident because of it? Texting while driving is the most common thing that almost everyone has done or seen. The main issue and threat is that people think they can safely type on their phone while driving; while others simply do not think there is any real danger with that act. Today, it is all about convenience; but the cost for this convenience can be very deadly. Studies show that any
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)
Texting and driving has become a recent issue in today's society and is one of the largest epidemics to sweep our nation. The progression of text messaging, with more capable phones and larger numbers of people engaging than ever before, has turned into one of the largest distractions in our world. Many teens, as well as adults, have formed a habit of using their cell phones while driving their cars. Several people do not think that a quick text or even a glance at a phone while they are driving will do any harm. A great bit of accidents has taken place due to a careless individual that decided to look at their phone while they were in the process of driving. These days, phones have gotten even more
According to kelly (2012), about “six billion messages are sent a day and over 2.2 trillion in the US, (Kelly, 2012). The worst violators are high school seniors, 58% have said they have texted while they were driving within the month before the study (Bratsis,2013).” That is a lot of teens that are texting nowadays. The majority of teenagers argue that “texting and driving is a “common” thing to do.” but when not only their lives but also other
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
Of the many effects that texting while driving has on an individual, the most profound impact is death and the toll it takes on close relatives.In Virginia, “a five month old baby,Tristan Schulz, was killed because of a driver that had his phone in his hand and got distracted” (A Baby Is Dead in Virginia. Now Will the State Do Something about Texting While Driving?” TWP).Avoidable deaths like this happen constantly due to the careless use of cellular devices on much traveled highways/roads.So many more lives could have been spared if only that one driver had simply chosen to wait until they were no longer driving.Another tragedy that resulted from texting while driving was the loss of Stephanie Phills,37,and 26, Heather Hurd’s life when a truck driver “reaching for his hand-held device to text his office,rammed into traffic at a stop light” (Bridget, and Lebovich N.p., n.d. Web)The truck driver stop to consider the
The next generation of teen drivers is starting to hit the roads, but distracted driving is an extremely large problem for them. With an addiction to any technology that crosses their paths, young drivers are more inclined to utilize this technology, mainly cell phones. This addiction distracts them while driving because they feel the need to respond to a text message as soon as possible. This addiction is unhealthy and intensely dangerous to the driver and their
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
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
Everyday in this world, on average, eleven teenagers die because of texting and driving. Losing your life for a text message is intelligibly not worth it. One text, and losing your life to that. When you could’ve waited to answer when you weren’t behind the wheel. No matter if you are alone, or have passengers. It simply isn’t worth it. The pain that would put your family through, and friends. To think, if I wouldn’t have texted them, we could be together right now. If I could’ve waited ten more minutes to text them, I wouldn’t have lost my best friend. So many people take advantage of texting and driving, but the truth is, it needs to end. So it will stop ending