Essay On Distracted Driving

Mitigating the Threat of Cell Phone Use While Driving

A major threat to the safety of people on road ways are distracted drivers. Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person's attention away from the primary task of driving. All distractions endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety. ("Key Facts"). Over 2.5 million people in the U.S. are involved in road accidents each year. Of these, 1.6 million are caused by the use of a cell phone. 1 out of 4 car accidents in the US are caused by texting while driving. Texting and driving is 6 times more likely to get you in an accident than drunk driving (Hopkins). Although measures are being implemented to mitigate this danger, more action needs to be taken to ensure driver safety.

One way that these accidents could be prevented is increasing awareness through education. High schools should include this in their learning curriculums. It should be presented in a way that shocks students and captures their attention in a way that they will never forget. Great examples can be

While the cost of implementing such measures are unknown, what is known is how distracted driving can affect our nation’s economy. In a study released by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2014, the economic cost of motor vehicle crashes (police-reported and unreported) totaled $277 billion in 2010, amounting to almost $897 for every person living in the United States and for 1.9 percent of the U.S Gross Domestic Product. These costs include medical, lost productivity, legal, emergency service, insurance administration, property damage, workplace and other ("Auto Crashes"). With the revenue collected from fines and the number of vehicle crashes greatly reduced, implementing the measures could be more cost