Distracted Driving

1917 Words4 Pages

Once Bitten, Twice Shy “Some of the best lessons we ever learn are learned from past mistakes. The error of the past is the wisdom and success of the future” -Dale Turner. This quote resounded in my head as I was driving to the shore with a couple of college buddies this past weekend. “Hey Frank, why do you have the No use of electronic devices when sitting adjacent to the driver or while driving! sign on your glove compartment”, one of my friends asked me. The answer to this question seems obvious to most people; for instance, texting and driving has statistically been proven to be a leading cause of most road accidents. However, my answer is not a one-word statement, it is a story that takes me back five years down memory lane. I had just …show more content…

It is hard to imagine that you could be the cause or victim of a distracted driving accident. I also shared similar sentiments until I experienced until experience taught me otherwise. Distracted driving is a serious problem, especially in developed nations, and is a leading cause of many road accidents. I am fortunate to have learned this important lesson five years ago and hope that my story has at least played a role in dissuading others from the use of phones while driving. For those who are still unconvinced, I will delineate some of the key reasons why you should stop this bad habit. I happen to be very tech-savvy and know that some of the most popular phone applications being used among teenagers include YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook and Twitter. All these applications require audiovisual attention and using them while driving significantly reduces a driver’s ability to observe all the important road rules and regulations. Based on multiple research initiatives, it has been established that it takes about 4.6 seconds to read a text, and driving at 30 miles per hour translates to seventy yards, just a few yards shorter than a football field. Imagine the number of things that could go wrong during that time, for instance not seeing an incoming vehicle, swerving into a curb, hitting a pedestrian or missing a traffic light. The consequences are endless, but one thing that is guaranteed is the potential of causing harm to oneself and others. Many lawmakers recognize the seriousness of this problem and have formulated stringent laws, hoping to dissuade distracted driving. States such as California, Vermont, Washington, Virginia and Oregon have passed laws against the use of cell phones while driving. With the aid of modern technology, it is very possible to determine the use of cellphones based on the timing of an accident.

Persuasive Essay On Texting And Driving
899 Words | 2 Pages
Over the past two decades the use of cell phones has grown significantly and statistic from the past two years have proven that driving while on the phone or texting is becoming one of the leading causes of traffic accidents today. In 2011, a survey of more than 2800 American adults revealed that even thought they know that using a cell phone or texting while driving is distracting, they do it anyway, and teens surveyed admit that texting while driving is their number one distraction. "Each year, 21% of fatal car crashes involving teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 were the result of cell phone usage. This result has been expected to grow as much as 4% ...
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Excuses For Distracted Driving
1043 Words | 3 Pages
As Americans have seen an increase in the amount of texting and driving, there have been several of the 50 states that have put laws in place to help try and put a reduction on the amount of fatalities. The devastating part about this kind of distraction is that nearly every person that owns a cell phone has picked it up at some point while they are driving to make a phone call or send a quick text. They have seen the commercials and they know the hurt that it has caused many families losing someone they love, but we still do it anyways. It’s so easy to tell yourself “It’s just one quick text, I will be fine.” At some point we need to realize this is not ok.
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Distracted Driving And Driving Laws: Causes And Consequences
876 Words | 2 Pages
Every person who has gets behind the wheel of a motor vehicle will be involved in some sort of automobile collision at some point in his or her lifetime. Traffic accidents account for over twenty thousand deaths each year and more than ten times as many injuries. There are a number of factors that contribute to these types of collisions, however, new and evolving laws can account for a large portion of successful preventable measures. In order for laws to be changed or added for the purpose of safer roads and highways, lawmakers have to first look at what factors contribute to such unsafe conditions. The top five causes of automobile accidents that cause injury are distracted drivers, driver fatigue, drunk driving, speeding, and aggressive driving. Laws can be proposed to reduce and even eliminate each of these risks.
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Distracted Driving Analysis
1493 Words | 3 Pages
According to Stephanie Hanes in the essay “Texting While Driving Is as Dangerous as Drunk Driving,” a driver on a phone and those talking on a phone are four times likely to crash. This statistic shows how dangerous using the phone or even texting is while driving. As technology has increased, so has the use of cellphone. Distracted driving has caused an increase in car fatalities and disasters. However, distracted driving can be prevented if drivers take precautions, but no matter what we do, trouble will always be spelling on the road.
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Consequences of Texting behind the Wheel
830 Words | 2 Pages
Distracted driving is such an increasing problem in the U.S. that there are laws against driving distracted. In New Jersey there is a handheld ban for all drivers and that is a primary law. There is a ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers. There is also a ban on texting for all drivers. This problem Is growing, drivers who are texting are 23.2 times more likely to get into a crash than people who aren’t (Cell Phones and Texting). Every driver takes their eyes off the road for approximately 4.6 seconds when texting. Driving is a new skill for teens, so doing multiple things simultaneously takes more effort for them than for more experienced drivers. Texting and driving can ruin families because when texting and driving there is a higher chance of getting in a crash. There are only 2 percent of people who can actually multitask successfully. Even though teens are more likely to try multitasking they are still part of the 98 percent who can’t do it safely. For example, Nebraska teen Emily Reynolds says...
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Negative Effects Of Distracted Driving
2631 Words | 6 Pages
The top two age groups that are involved in car accidents due to distracted driving are is aged twenty and under with 16% and ages 20-29 with 13% (paragraph 4). Some people may ask how many people actually use their phones while behind the wheel between all drivers, and at any time of the day across America, approximately over six hundred thousand drivers use their cell phone while driving, and that number has been growing and growing since 2010. Teens are more involved in distracted driving accidents than older people aged thirty and up. A study about teens and adults involved in distracted driving accidents displayed that teen drivers are FOUR times more likely to get into a fatal car accident due to distracted driving than an adult (paragraph 11). But everyone is the same when it comes to distracted driving. Many young drivers know the dangers of texting and driving, but just can’t stop it because they are addicted to their cell phones. “Nor is it possible to overestimate how addicted Americans are to their cellphones. In a Transportation Department survey released this week, nearly two-thirds of those surveyed said talking on a handheld phone was "very or somewhat unsafe." Yet 77% reported answering calls while driving, and 41% said they made calls.” Some helpful tips to help you stop texting and
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Annotated Bibliography On Distracted Driving
1046 Words | 3 Pages
David Hosansky states that the use of cell phones and texting should not be allowed while driving. The increased uses of cell phones and texting while driving has become the center of safety conversations. In fact, there are more than 5,000 deaths related to the use of cell phones and texting while driving over the last decade. Even if laws were put in place it is believed that motorists would still find it hard to put down their phones down. Hosansky also gave an example on the hazards of texting while driving, especially among young drivers. There are very few states that have implemented laws restricting the use of cell phones or texting while driving. David Hosansky is a freelance writer in the Denver area. This article seems to have been written for the general public and thought to be informative. I found this especially helpful and informative in finding this is not just a local problem.
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Texting and Driving
1795 Words | 4 Pages
Research indicates that despite the common sense risks, few state laws specifically banning their use exist leading to the conclusion that this is a dangerous problem. While many states are moving towards straitening their existing laws or implementing “Distracted Driver” laws, the continued implications of allowing drivers to distract themselves is growing exponentially. For example, in the State of Maine, our legislature enacted a bill, which upon approval was added into law as Maine Title 29-A MRSA, § 2119 (Distracted). This law, which basically defined just texting as a distraction, did nothing towards curbing the use of major distractions while driving. Except for newly licensed, young drivers, there is no prohibition on cell phone use while driving in Maine; however, all Maine drivers are prohibited from texting while driving.
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A Minute Saved: Practice Safe Driving
744 Words | 2 Pages
Today’s society appears to be constantly on the go. People seem to be pulled in multiple directions at once. Individuals never appear to have enough time to complete tasks that continually accumulate. It can be difficult to criticize someone that tries to make the most out every minute. Unfortunately, some of today’s drivers show a lack of judgment and trying to perform other tasks, while behind the wheel. People may feel this is best use time while getting to a destination. Occasionally, the small amount of time that people are trying to gain results in a time consuming accident. With modern conveniences that are geared toward an on the go public, individuals appear to be too preoccupied to driving safely.
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Persuasive Speech On Texting And Driving
709 Words | 2 Pages
Good Evening my name is Rafaela, I’m here to persuade you why you shouldn’t text and drive. (Video)There’s times we wish we could rewind time, but sadly we can’t. We all make the mistake of texting and driving without thinking on the consequences this could bring.
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Being Distracted While Driving
1100 Words | 3 Pages
You get a phone call from the Police Department. You can get a call from anyone or your there to experience it. You get dreadful news. Your child or loved one was a victim of distracted while driving. What if you’re also in a car finding out this dreadful news.
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Persuasive Essay On Texting And Driving
827 Words | 2 Pages
Now a days everyone is glued to their phones, constantly checking their emails, facebooking, snapchatting and texting. With all the devices people have and interact with on a day to day basis, there seems to be a lack of knowledge on how dangerous these devices really are. A report done by the AAA traffic safety foundation showed that “Each year, more than 80% of drivers in the annual AAA Foundation Traffic Safety Culture Index cite distraction as a serious problem and a behavior that makes them feel less safe on the road.” With the limited hours of free time during the day, people are using driving time to check emails and make phone calls which is inflicting on the safety of everyone around them. Texting and driving needs to be a thing of
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Texting And Driving Affecting Today's Society
1951 Words | 4 Pages
Ga young Shin Professor Wallace English 101 18 May 2018 Texting and Driving Texting and driving are an important issue affecting today’s society. Texting and driving can cost someone else’s life; in addition, killing someone can cause offenders to have a lot of guilt. It can also cause injuries, higher insurance rates, as well as expensive medical bills. Given these potential negative outcomes, why do people text and drive? Many young adults or teenagers using smartphones can overestimate their ability to multitask while driving; especially if they are inexperienced they may also be addicted to their phones.
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Should Texting While Driving Be Illegal?
722 Words | 2 Pages
First and foremost, the risk of using a phone while driving is a big chance of an accident more than what the people think. According to the Harvard study “Texting while driving and other forms of distracted driving are responsible for more than 1 million crashes, 400,000 injuries, and 3,000 deaths in the U.S. each year—and those numbers are likely to in...
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Persuasive Essay On Texting While Driving
783 Words | 2 Pages
According to Ian Mulgrew, a journalist/author from Canada, many accidents are blamed on distracted driving and most of the distractions are caused by cell phone usage (Mulgrew). This shows that accidents are being caused by texting and driving. A majority of people have busy lives that leaves them to get things done while on the road. Texting or using a cell phone while driving is very hazardous to yourself and the people surrounding you. Most people are against this action is because it causes many car accidents every year. Did you know that texting while driving is one of the longest eyes-off-the road time of distracted driving activities? According to DWI, text messaging makes a crash up to 23 times more likely. While other activities like, dialing, talking or listening or reaching for a device is less likely. While driving, adults and teenagers cannot resist the urge to pick up their cell phone and send a text or respond to one. When a
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Distracted Driving

Persuasive Essay On Texting And Driving

Excuses For Distracted Driving