Tougher Laws To Reduce Distracted Driving

Distracted driving poses an immense problem across the United States, and the issue only seems to continue growing. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “In 2015 alone, 3,477 people were killed” in cases involving distracted driving, and of those killed, “teens were the largest age group reported as distracted at the time of fatal crashes” (“Distracted Driving”, n.d.). These terrifying statistics cannot be ignored. Distracted driving is a national epidemic, and unless society addresses the problem properly and efficiently, the risky driving behavior will continue to plague our streets, endangering peoples’ lives and leading to more fatalities.

Many people have lost their lives on the road and caused other’s deaths because they were distracted with doing something while driving. In 2012, 3,328 people were killed in distraction-related crashes (“Statistics on Texting & Cell Phone Use While Driving” n.d.). Distractions while driving that result in these accidents include texting/making a call or becoming intoxicated and having high blood alcohol concentration. Many laws have been brought forth to help regulate the amount of people drinking while driving and using a cell phone while driving. Not only do people put their own lives in danger, they are also putting other’s lives in danger. People who take part in these distractions are not being responsible when making these rash decisions while driving and creating a hazardous environment for those around them.

In this article “Distracted Driving”, many distractions are mentioned other than just cell phone usage, such as changing the radio station or driving with kids in the back seat. It is stated that the dangers from distracted driving are because of the decrease in brain function and inability to pay full attention to the road. These practices lead to wrecks and in many cases death.

According to Ashley Gaddis from Counterpoint, “From 1999 to 2008, nearly fifty-two thousand people were killed in car crashes caused by distracted drivers” (n.pag.). Distracted driving started when technology became mobile and handheld. Many people have died and gotten injured from people not paying attention to the road. This problem has been growing as technology advances. Distracted driving is a big problem and there needs to be stronger penalties and laws in place to deter people from distracted driving.

Distracted driving in America is not a trivial issue in today's society. On average, eight people are killed and one thousand one hundred sixty one people are injured due to accidents involving distracted drivers, particularly due to texting. Distracted driving is a huge issue in our society. The risks are great and lead to unfathomable results. Distracted driving has also taken such a big toll on our Nation, that laws have been put in place in hopes of preventing distracted driving.

Nearly nine in 10 teenage drivers have engaged in distracted driving even though they know that their actions increase their risk of getting into a car accident (Copeland). Drivers know that what they do is unacceptable but they still do it. Distracted driving is any activity that can distract a person’s attention away from driving (“Facts and Statistics”). Distracted driving can include changing the radio station, texting, eating, looking at an advertisement at the side of the road, or talking on the phone. There has been an issue in whether tougher laws are needed for distracted driving. To most people, tougher laws will make drivers not drive and be distracted because there will be a major consequence to it. Even though tougher laws will help some individuals,

Distracted driving is a major problem all over the world. Some people believe that making distracted driving against the law will help, but many people don’t take the law into consideration. People should be taught that distracting yourself while driving is serious and very life threatening to you, the people in the car with you, and the other individuals on the road. Many people lack the common sense to not use their phone while getting behind the wheel. There should be a class or warning when someone gets their license reminding them the hazards of being on your phone while

“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,” (Heit). This specific quote shows how the results of distracted driving not only affects you, but also those around you. Distracted driving has been a serious concern for many years. This subject has been an issue because of the dangers it brings to the safety of others. One major type of distracted driving includes texting and driving. which is becoming more popular in today’s society because many have cell phones. Another type of distracted driving is drinking and driving, this continues to stay a topic for many years. Although drinking and driving and texting and driving carry many similarities with the

First, schooling teens in distracted driving won't be enough to change their habits. Drs. Coben says, “Young drivers are at greatest risk, both because they use cell phones more than older drivers, and because they are inexperienced behind the wheel." This is why teens are being piled with statistics and information all through intermediate, middle, and high school, but does this really make a difference? Many of our young people are becoming rebellious to the repeated efforts to inform them of apparent-or rather ensuing-danger. It makes you wonder whether or not

Distracted driving is one of the fastest growing problems in the United States.   It is starting to be considered as serious as drunk driving based on the dangerous outcomes.  According to the Department of Transportation (2012), “distracted driving was a cause of roughly 450,000 accident-related injuries and nearly 5,500 fatalities in 2009 alone” (para. 1). Drivers who allow themselves to become distracted while driving are not only endangering themselves, but other innocent bystanders.

There is an undeniable familiar site as we drive down our roads daily. Distracted drivers pose a risk to all those on the road ways. According to the US Department of Transportation National Highway of Traffic Safety Administration, on September 30, 2009, the problem of distracted driving reached the attention of the highest levels of government when President Obama issued an Executive Order prohibiting Federal employees from texting while driving government vehicles or while using a government supplied cell phone while driving any vehicle. U.S. Department of Transportation agencies have issued similar directives. Examples given include the “Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) banned commercial truck and bus drivers from

Driving is one of the many luxuries we have available in this country. According to the Federal Highway Administration, there are over 210 million licensed drivers in the United States. Of those 210 million motorists how many do you think are distracted right now? It is true that the number one cause of distracted driving stems from hand held devices such as: cell phones, radios, iPad, food, make-up, books, and ect. According to the National NPA, 80% of drivers rate distracted driving as a very serious threat to their safety; texting while driving has the highest crash risk of all forms of distracted driving; drivers using a hand-held device are four times more likely to cause a crash serious enough to cause injury; an estimated

Advancing technology in wireless communications is presenting a growing concern for distracted driving due to using cell phones and other electronic devices while driving. Although distracted driving accidents and fatalities have risen in the last decade, placing a ban on the use of a cell phone or other electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle as some states have will not resolve the issue. In fact a ban on cell phones and driving may very well increase the accident and fatality rate because drivers are now more involved with concealing their illegal behaviors. More citizen participation and drivers safety management should be more carefully considered in a transpiring situation such as this. More Americans should be

Drivers are going to stop getting distracted while they are driving. In the future, people are going to be focused on driving. All of the drivers are going to put their effort into not getting distracted while they are driving. There are multiple things that drivers can do to prevent getting distracted. Some examples include turning off their phone, pulling over to pick something up and waiting until they arrive somewhere to fix their makeup. Teens driving their own cars are more likely to get distracted than those who share a car with others. For example, 20% of teens who share cars had texted while driving compared to 35% of teens with their own cars (Copeland). If this is not solved, people are going to continue to get injured or even die. Teenagers that are barely learning how to drive need to learn the dangers of distracted driving before they drive on the road. People need to be focused on driving so they can not get in a crash with someone else. Distracted driving is a big issue that needs to be fixed. There are plenty of dangers that can be prevented. There are a majority of people that have experienced distracted driving. Other people that are just walking down the street can also get injured or killed due to distracted drivers or even drunk drivers. If drivers stop distracted driving, the roads will be

In Florida distracted driving has become a big problem over the years. People are aware of the dangers of being on their phone when driving, but still go on their phone despite that. People don’t fully understand the dangers until they get into an accident themselves. Sergeant Kim Montes said “They don’t think it’s that big of a deal until an emergency happens, until that car pulls out in front of you (or) a motorcycle pulls out in front of you.”. People also aren’t concerned about getting fined for using their phone while driving. They know they will easily be able to get away with