Put the Phone Down. The Call or Text Message Can Wait. There are many social problems that occur in America in today’s society. For instance, cell phone use and driving has become a huge problem in our country today, and the usage of cell phones has become more and more popular in today’s society in our country. The major problem with this issue of cell phone use and driving is that there are people out there that will take that huge risk to use their phone and drive at the same time. Not only is the driver putting their lives at risk, they are also endangering others around them and putting their life on the line. Just by putting their phones down, the driver will be more likely to prevent serious injuries, accidents, or deaths from occurring. …show more content…
In fact, according to the National Safety Council, cell phone use and driving results in 1.6 million crashes yearly. (“Texting and Driving Accident Statistics”). This is over a million crashes that were caused just from using your cell phone and driving at the same time, therefore making the road more dangerous and putting innocent one’s lives at risk. Likewise, cell phone use and driving has proved to be correlated with deadly and serious car crashes. According to Woody (2015), more than a quarter of vehicle collisions are shown to be due to the driving using his or her cell phone. This issue has also increased at a higher rate in more recent years, as the Nation Safety Council researched that the rate of car collisions through texting increased by six percent in 2013. Through the issue of texting and driving, the NBC also showed that even though talking on a cell phone caused over a million car crashes during 2013, texting was the bigger problem, as it lead to three-hundred and forty-one thousand more car crashes. (Woody, …show more content…
In particular, many states are taking action to put an end to this issue. Seven states have passed laws to prohibit using a handheld cell phone and driving at the same time. Specifically, these states that have ratified these laws are Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, California, Oregon, and Washington. In other words, police officers have the authority to pull somebody over if they are using their cell phone in the state. (Michon, n.d.) This proves that more states are becoming more alert to this social problem and how it can lead to severe consequences, and that they are setting strict laws to encourage drivers to put their phones down. In addition, these laws for these seven states may also motivate drivers to think twice before looking at their cell phone, because this will lead to him or her getting pulled over by a police officer, and the police officer may grant the driver a written warning, a ticket, or more serious consequences. Likewise, statistics prove that thirty-seven states forbid new drivers or teenagers from using their cell phones behind the wheel under all circumstances, and forty-six states have established laws forbidding texting and driving. (Teigen, n.d.) In the long run, it is highly recommended for drivers to use provisions and safety measures behind the wheel with regards to their cell phones. The driver
In Syracuse, N.Y., there have been strict laws against handheld cellphone use and texting and driving, and they have been extremely effective (Copeland, 1). Law enforcement saw over 70% of texting driving put to a halt. Transportation secretary Ray LaHood said, “Over half a million people are said to be injured, and thousands more are killed in distracted driving accidents” (Copeland, 1).Another very effective campaign that will probably soon be known world-wide is “Phone in one hand, Ticket in the other”(Copeland, 1). Most people in todays world would be familiar with the “click it or ticket” phrase that has allowed people to be reminded to put on their seat belt. Just as this campaign reminds people to wear a seat belt, the “Phone in one hand, Ticket in the other” is designed to remind drivers that it is far too dangerous to be interacting with your phone while driving (Copeland, 1).
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.
Most of the drivers are likely to mix up driving and messaging from their cell phones while driving regardless of the laws standing on the issues, and danger posed to them. A majority of those drivers engaging in this act do not contemplate the possible detrimental effects from their actions. Research has indicated that texting while driving contributes to road accidents significantly. This situation is sufficiently bad to the extent that there are more accidents caused by messaging while driving than those caused by drunken driving (Fumento n.p.). From the foregoing statements, this essay seeks to support the laws, which outlaws texting while driving by highlighting how dangerous it is for drivers to massage while driving.
Those that think it is ok to text and drive do not realize how much harm, and danger they are putting their lives at, and the lives of others that are on the road as well. Even if one thinks that they are a good enough driver to be on their phone while they drive, still are not guaranteed that they will not get in an accident. No matter how much someone has been driving, or how good they are does not mean they should be using their phones, because just by taking a glance at their phone for a second could instantly change their lives, if they were to ever get in a car crash, or hurt another human
The Northern Virginia driving populace expands consistently coming about because of business and lodging development. Every year additionally brings a wave of new adolescents into the driving populace. Every day amid my average drive one hour drive, I watch drivers content informing on their mobile phones. A late review led by Journey Safe, a safe driving support association, found that in excess of 90% of teens confess to doing different tasks while driving, for example, chatting on the phone, consuming, playing noisy music, channel surfing, utilizing mp3 players, and cooperating with companions in the auto actually when they concede they think that it occupying. The same study results demonstrate that a staggering 75% of adolescents confessed to content informing while driving. Content informing while driving is a developing pattern and is turning into one of the country 's top executioners. In 2011, 1.3 billion (almost 25% of all) car crashes came about because of messaging while driving and 11 adolescents kicked the bucket commonplace from messaging while driving. Notwithstanding, just thirty-nine (39) states in addition to DC restrict all drivers from content informing. Honestly, distracted driving is a perilous reality and it makes driving unsafe business for everybody on the streets. Americans ought to backing the
This is also why I think they should just ban all use of cell phones. “13% of drivers age 18-20 involved in car wrecks admitted to texting or talking on the phone at the time of the crash. 34% of teens say they have texted while behind the wheel of the car, while 82% of Americans age 16-17 own a cell phone. I know that while I am driving I put my phone on silent and put it in my glove box that way if I need it for whatever reason I can just reach over and grab it.”
Texting and driving is a deadly issue in today 's generation. Using our cellphones while driving is a damaging habit among teens and adults. This habit caused many catastrophic accidents and deaths. Texting while driving has made the roads unsafe for other drivers. Many states recognize the immense threat resulting from texting and driving and have placed a ban on this epidemic. While many people realize texting and driving is hazardous others believe that the ban is useless and not strong enough of a solution.
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% ...
Each different state has their own respective laws regarding policy and punishment when it comes to texting while driving, all of which are not strong enough to force people to put their phones down. Every state should have the same exact laws against texting. Due to these facts, it is imperative that the United States’ government takes strong action against the rising war on texting and driving. Making it a requirement to download applications and ensuring that our country understands the horrific danger that can occur simply from typing “hey whats up”
Texting and driving has become the new D.U.I meaning (driving under the influence) in society today is similar to driving under the influence. Both teenagers and adults have taken upon themselves to text while driving to possibly cause accidents and death. Prevention is a must texting and driving can cause death to society. Choosing to turn off your phone can prevent such tragedy. A study stated by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski stated that ‘’currently there is no national ban on texting or using a wireless phone while driving, but a number of states have passed laws banning texting or wireless phones or requiring hands-free use of wireless phones while driving.’’ Meaning it may be allowed but it is being used as a law to prevent possible accidents.
The purpose of states banning the use of cellphones while driving is to increase safety on the road and to save more lives. New York and California have made progress in reducing the amount of accidents caused by drivers using cellphones, however, accidents in other states like Colorado and Texas have not made the same progress in reducing road collisions. The problem here is the effectiveness of the ban is now questioned. "Since enacting new laws and attempting to enforce them requires time and resources, an ineffective ban ultimately may be a waste of money" (Emerson,
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
People are constantly fixated on their phones, checking social media and texting and they seem to have become accustom to doing this wherever they please, whether it be at dinner, at work or in the car. The use of a cell phone while driving is extremely dangerous and destructive to not only the driver, but also everyone driving around them. Every year, twenty one percent of fatal car crashes involving teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 were the result of using their cell phone while behind the wheel. This statistic is expected to grow as much as four percent every year. But, texting and driving is not just a problem among teen drivers. One-fifth of adult drivers in the United States also report sending text messages while driving (“Cell Phone & Texting Accidents”). To help fight this problem, the government needs much take a stronger stance and try to stand up against texting and driving to make the idea a bigger deal and implement harsher punishments, as well as stressing the damaging effects of texting and driving to children and teens early on in
Texting while driving is a widespread epidemic in the United States that has unfavorable effects on our society.“Driving while texting is the standard wording used for traffic violations” (Bernstein). It causes many people to be distracted which can lead to accidents. “Eighty-nine percent of people own a cell phone” (Gardner). That is a plethora of people that are at risk of texting while driving. Also, texting has increased by ten times in three years(Bernstein). “The risk of a crash for those who are texting is twenty-three point two times greater than those who are not” (Gardner).Driving drunk only makes a person seven times more likely to be in a crash (Bernstein). This means texting while driving is three times more dangerous than driving intoxicated. One in five drivers admits to texting while driving(Gardner). This shows that that texting while driving is a widespread epidemic. When a survey asked teenagers whether they text and drive,“seventy five percent of teens admitted to texting while driving” (7).Distracted driving causes seventy-eight percent of car crashes(Bernstein). “No distraction causes as high of a risk of an accident as texting while driving” (Gardner). Also with these statistics, it is not hard to understand why accidents in teenagers that are driving have risen. The Bluetooth capability in cars gives a driver a hands-free way to talk on the phone, but is still not completely safe (8). Also, only 1 out of 3 US cars sold in 2009 had this feature. New systems are being developed that will use Bluetooth as well a global positioning technology to allow parents to monitor cell phone use and texting while driving (10).
Driving is a major responsibility, just like having access to a phone. When these two mix, scary things can happen. For the safety of everyone on the road, many states have made cell pone use while driving illegal. I believe this was a very good decision on behalf of those areas, because using a cell phone shouldn't be a priority while behind the wheel and it is a very dangerous act. First of all, while on the road drivers already have a lot of multitasking to do, between their own actions, and those of other drivers. Drivers have to pay attention to their mirrors, their speedometer, their blind spots, and everything going on around them; whether it be a parent with kids in the backseat, or friends on the way to a sports game.