Worst Driving Generation

In the scholarly journal “Distracted Driving: Prevalence, Problems, and Prevention”, Tiffany Overton, who has an MA and MPH degree, wrote a research report with her colleagues that clearly stated the impact cell phones have on drivers and provided potential solutions to the issue. They begin their report with a short introduction that briefs the acknowledgment on the negative impacts of distracted driving. Continuing on, Overton and her associates outline the topics their research report covers in means of identifying distracted driving and ways to reduce the issue in the United States. They define distracted driving as “eating, applying makeup, reading, smoking, and talking” (Overton), however, “the most prominent activity fuelling research

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 2014, 2,179 people were killed, and 431,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers. This trend is being continued by the younger and newer generation, as distracted driving has been a big temptation for teens. Eighty-six percent of the eighty-two percent of American teens who own cell phones have admitted to either being on a call or responding to a text while driving. It’s even more alarming that as of 2014, seventy-seven percent claim that they are confident that they can handle distractions while driving. Distracted driving is pretty explanatory; the process of being distracted while driving any motorized vehicle. Anyone can be part of a distracted driving incident; it can be the driver, the passengers in the vehicle and even other people in surrounding vehicles. There are a few ways to make sure drivers would be able to drive and give their complete attention to the road, such as educating the public, and restricting the inattentiveness of the driver. However, it is necessary for the states to enforce laws that reduce distracted driving because frequent multitasking can have a negative effect on the brain’s ability to focus, and distracted driving puts the safety of the driver and the people around them at risk.

Therefore, we want to inform you about three deadly distractions found with cell phone use. One article (CDC et al., 2015), explains in simple terms, “There are three main types of distraction; visual, (taking your eyes off the road), manual, (taking your hands off the wheel), and cognitive, (taking your mind off of driving).” (para. 1). There are six variables with cell phone driving behaviors; all of which have a bleak end. According to researchers and predictors of distracted cell phone driving, Tian and Robinson (2016), “The data suggest that the attitude variable predicted intention to engage in all six distracted driving behaviors (reading and sending text message, making and answering cell phone calls, reading/viewing social media), and posting on social media while driving.” (para. 1). These behavior variables can lead to unsafe driving. Moreover, the law would be enforced on DWD violators.

Distracted Driving ranks at the forefront of many drivers thinking for traffic safety. 80% of drivers at the AAA foundation say that distracted driving is a serious problem, and a behavior that makes them feel less safe on the road. 50% of the people say that they feel less safe this year than they did 5 years ago because distracted driving has increased. Federal estimates say that 16% of the fatal crashes are due to distracted driving, leading to around 5,000 deaths each year. Research has concluded that distraction lasts about 27 seconds longer, which means even after a driver puts down their phone, they aren’t fully engaged in their driving tasks. AAA believes that by educating the public on how mental and physical distractions can impair

Distracted driving is second on the list and is expected to rise in years to come (Wilson &Stimpson, 2010). In 2008, one in every six fatal crashes was a result of distracted driving. Studies showed that drivers who text and drive were 23 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash (Wilson &Stimpson, 2010). Approximately 660,000 drivers are manipulating some kind of electronic device or cell phone while driving on U.S. highways (Wilson &Stimpson, 2010). In 2012, 3328 fatalities and 421,000 injuries were a result of this hazardous behavior (Wilson &Stimpson,

Distracted driving is a common characteristic many licensed individuals have. Think about how many times you’ve seen drivers on their electronic devices. In a statistical report conducted by the U.S National Highway Administration (FHWA) states that, about 660,000 drivers are handling cell phones or other electronic devices while driving in the United States. Licensed drivers take on the role and responsibility to avoid being distracted behind the wheel. The New England Journal of Medicine hypothesized that, “Driving requires the integration of high level cognition, vision, many physical and cognitive changes affect driving amongst the elderly, such as slower reaction time, hearing and vision problems, decreased ability to function and medical problems, including age associated cognitive decline and the use of drugs affecting cognitive performance. In addition, with the hypothesis above adult drivers 65 years of age through 69 years have a 30% higher risk of being involved in a fatal car accident. However, drivers who were 85 years of age or older endured a risk that is 3-4 times as high as adult drivers between the ages of 65- 69 years (“Distracted Driving and Crash Risk,” 2014). Distracted driving is a global epidemic that that must be corrected to ensure the safety of everyone on the road. We all fall guilty of taking our eyes off the road to check that text message, or changing the radio station or even taking in the

Ever since the creation of portable technology, people have found a way to distract themselves from the responsibilities of safely operating a vehicle. The first distractions while driving a vehicle began with something as simple as the car radio. As technology progressed, the devices became more complex and required more attention to operate them. Recently, the biggest distraction for drivers is using smartphones to send text messages or to interact with others through social media. People fail to realize the dangers that are associated with distracted driving. The Department of Transportation reported 100,917 distracted driving crashes in 2014, resulting in 483 fatalities and more than 3,000 serious injuries. Compared with 2013, distracted-driving crashes in Texas have increased by 6 percent (“Cell Phone” 2008). The broad meaning of the phrase, distracted driving is any activity that could divert a driver’s attention while operating a vehicle. My paper will focus solely on distracted driving while using a handheld electronic device.

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.

Texting and using other hand-held devices while driving is a trend that has sadly adopted a sense of normality in today’s society. This activity is usually called distracted driving. The U.S Department of Transportation describes distracted driving as a type of inattention that occurs when drivers divert their attention from the activities of safe driving, consequently increasing the risk of a motor vehicle crash. (Sherin, 2014) It is done by teenagers and adults on a regular basis. There is a study that found that drivers are 23 times more likely to crash while texting. (Caird, Johnston, Willness, & Asbridge, 2014). Texting and being distracted while driving isn’t worth the precious life of a driver, or other drivers on the road around them.

Analysis of distractions while driving lead to the conclusions and recommendations of this report on teenage texting while driving. They included vision, manual, and cognitive reasons that contribute to the issue. We all find at times that our cell phones are irresistible. This is true, especially when it comes to teenagers. Drivers need to stay focused and use their concentration when operating a motor

Many people refuse to accept the fact that, texting while driving is one of the biggest problem in the United States, they are always checking their emails, messages, while they are driving, they will reply back to the text messages, when they know it is very dangerous for them, for the passengers in the car, for other drivers on the road, and also for those that walking on the sidewalk. Texting while driving causes great amount of car accidents every year. 10% of drivers of all ages under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), defines distracted driving as “any activity that diverts a drivers attention from the road, including talking or texting on the phone, eating, drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with the stereo, entertainment or navigation system, or anything that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving.” Cell phones have become the biggest distractions while driving especially for teenager/young adults. When young drivers get a text there is an immediate urge to look at it right then. No matter what the driving conditions are, pouring down rain or stuck in traffic young drivers feel that they have to look at that text immediately. According to the NHTSA texting causes the most distractions while driving. The NHTSA data says “sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for five seconds. At fifty-five mph, it is like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.” The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety states that “adult’s drivers are by far the likeliest age group to admit to

Driving is an occurrence that happens almost daily for most adults in our area of the country. We start driving when we are fourteen years old to attend school and various other functions. Then we continue to drive more and more as we get older and acquire jobs and families. As our populations has increased so have the number of vehicles on the road. Distracted driving has always been a problem, but over the last several years we have seen that smart phones and social media have increased this problem. Unfortunately texting can happen behind the wheel of a moving vehicle. As a result, distracted driving occurs, taking away the focus of the road from the driver. Kansas statistics show an increase in cell phone related crashes in the last several years (www.ksdot.org). Injury accidents and property damage crashes increased while fatalities showed a fluctuation in numbers.

alone every year. The issue of driving while talking on a cell phone has become serious enough that five states have passed laws prohibiting this type of act and making it a primary offense to do so. Not only are drivers talking behind the wheel, but many have admitted to engaging in even more potentially dangerous behavior with their phones such as text messaging and surfing the internet. A distracted driver is a dangerous one. If you are focused on a conversation and your eyes are not on the road, drivers cannot be expected to make a quick and safe decision should the need for one arise. The behavior of a driver while using a cell phone has been compared to that of one driving while under the influence. Studies have shown that those who use a cell phone while driving are four times more likely to be involved in a crash than those who don’t.