Distracted Driving

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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.

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