Today’s technologies are advancing at such an astonishing rate. This can make it difficult for even the most avid “techie” to keep pace. Technology is that wonderful thing that brings comfort and convenience to our lives. But, with that comfort and convenience, there often comes a price; and the technology of the cell phone proves no exception. Arguably, as a communication tool, the cell phone has no equal in how it has changed and affected our lives. Mostly, the effect has been positive in many ways. But, as it is with anything, overuse and abuse has brought out its dark side and the effect of unintended consequences. One of the unintended consequences of the cell phone is its effect on the health of its users and even the health …show more content…
Younger, inexperienced drivers under the age of 20 may be at a higher risk; they garner the highest proportion of distraction-related fatal crashes. The National Safety Council reports that at least 23 percent of all traffic crashes, or at least 1.3 million crashes, involve cell phone use. This number can be broken down to an estimated 1.2 million crashes each year involving drivers using cell phones for conversations and the remaining 100,000 or more additional crashes can be related to drivers who are texting. Analyzing this data shows that cell phone conversations are involved in 12 times as many crashes as texting. This seems to dispel the common myth that a texting driver is the more commonly dangerous cell phone activity. Additionally, and maybe surprisingly to some, it is not just our drivers causing dangerous situations on the roadways. Many times, pedestrians entranced with their cell phones are just as dangerous as drivers using them. A study published in Injury Prevention in 2012 reflects that one in three pedestrians is distracted by a mobile device while crossing busy streets. This type of distraction leads to accidents that injure both pedestrians and drivers. Germs and Cell Phones Cell phones not only carry important data, but nasty germs also. The greasy, oily residue you
These little handheld devices are useful tools that today’s generation is lucky to have, but they can cause grave danger. They can even decide whether you live another minute. In all cases, it is not this extreme, see however, it is. According to U.S. cell phone and driving statistics in 2012, 3,328 people died in cell-phone distraction-related crashes. About 421,000 obtained injuries in crashes involving a distracted driver. Since that survey numbers have only kept increasing. This statistic alone makes the situation a little clearer and establishes a concrete reason why Wyoming needs to eliminate cell-phone usage behind the wheel.
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.
Cell phones have become an essential part of many peoples’ lives as they are one of the main sources of communication. People are able to complete many tasks using their phones, such as making phone calls, sending and receiving e-mails, text messaging, and even snapping photos. Cell phones are not only beneficial, but they are impactful in many ways. As many positive uses there are for cell phones, cell phone usage can be undoubtedly precarious while driving. Cell phone usage while driving is many times done irresponsibly and can put the driver at risk of getting injured. In addition to the driver getting injured, innocent pedestrians could also potentially lose their lives or be crippled due to a texting person who was driving at the same time. According to The Federal Communications Commission, “over 8 people are killed and approximately 1,161 are injured daily in incidents reported as distraction-affected crashes in the United States.” Texting while driving has become the number one distraction of drivers and main cause of car crashes. These crashes could result in hundreds of thousands of people either losing their lives or experiencing life-changing injuries. Although cell phone usage is an effective way to communicate with others and to complete certain tasks, it has become problematic for drivers in recent years as it increased the risk of injury and death while driving. For these reasons, texting while driving should be illegal and punishable by law.
Cell phones are so much more than just an electronic. They are huge parts of our personal welfare. Cell phones are used to call for help, make appointments, contact loved ones, set reminders, and so much more. If you get lost somewhere, you have navigation right there in
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
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
The number of people of people wounded or killed in distracted driving accidents due to cell phone use. What is crazy is that everyone is aware of the danger of this cell phone use, but for many, especially young adults, the constant need to check their cell phone to respond to a text, email, call, or to use the internet, outweighs the possible consequences. Some reasons might be that they feel like they can handle both or feel like a hands-free call isn’t dangerous, but the truth is that all forms of cell phone use while driving are dangerous and should not be allowed. Since these accidents account for % of distracted driving accidents, I want to talk a little about what distracted driving is, the three main types, and how they apply to each type of cell phone use.
Albeit pragmatic, cell phones have become overused, resulting in several major issues in our society. Everyone from kids in grade school to elders in nursing homes own a cell phone. They are becoming more common in our society each year. We have begun overusing our cell phones. Many people are even becoming addicted to their cell phone (South University). People are refusing to put their cell phones down, even when they are driving. In 2015, 3,477 people died and 391,000 people were injured, all from people driving while distracted by their cell phones. More than 650,000 people even admitted to being on
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.
With 87 percent of American adults owning a cell phone (Jerpi, 2013), it becomes obvious that cell phones have become a staple device in today’s society. Although cell phones offer convenience, they arguably come with negative affects. Cell Phones have become one of the fastest emerging technologies (Campbell, 2006). With 87 percent of American adults and teenagers owning a cell phone (Jerpi, 2013), it becomes obvious that cell phones have become a staple device in today’s society. Since the release of the first cell phone, they have immensely evolved and some would say, have become an essential to everyday life. Although cell phones offer convenience, they arguably come with negative and impactful effects on our social
According to an article, “Texting and Driving Statistics”, 3,179 people died and 431,000 people were injured in 2014 due to distracted drivers involved in accidents. Distracted driving is not caused by cell phones alone, it could be caused by the radio, a navigation system, eating, conversing with others in the car, or reading. The same article states that, “because text messaging requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver, it is by far the most alarming distraction.” The percentage of drivers texting while behind the wheel increased by 0.5 percent from 2013 to 2014. It is a dangerous issue that is causing death and injury every year. The average time used to read a text message is five seconds, and according to the article, “When traveling at 55mph, that's enough time to cover the length of a football field blindfolded. “ That is ample time to cause an
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
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
Technology has advanced over the years, causing our lifestyle to change drastically and head down a new path. With these advances in technology, the cell phone appeared and has evolved throughout time. The cell phone has become a necessity to many. All ages use this mobile device for either personal or business use. Higgins states that the amount of cell phones active has increased from “one billion in 2000 to 6 billion.” Although cell phones play an important role in the lives of many, the negative possibilities could cause destruction to our society.
The cell phones have very bad effect on the environment. The cell phones which are thrown away after not capable to work properly can badly affect our environment. The cell phones contain bio accumulative metals which become toxic over a period of time. The hazardous substances like cadmium, lead, nickel and mercury are present in cell phones which are capable of causing cancer and other fatal diseases if cell phones are not disposed properly.