Persuasive Essay On Drowsy Driving

1762 Words4 Pages

Title : “Why drowsy driving should be illegal in the state of California.”

“John died in his sleep. He was warm, comfortable, and doing 70 miles per hour on the motorway”(Fatigue:THINK!:Roadsafety. (N.d.). Retrieved from http://think.direct.gov.uk/fatigue.html). Should drowsy driving be mandated as a criminal offense in the state of California? Few people realize the explicit dangers of drowsy driving. Consider the following scenario: Darkness surrounds your car on the drive home after a late night at the office. There is no light on the two-lane highway except for occasional flashes from the headlights of oncoming traffic. Your eyelids are heavy. You yawn. Your head begins to bob. As you shake your head from side to side trying …show more content…

The lateness of the hour was evident when the announcement “we now conclude our broadcast day” was made around 2 a.m. while the Star Spangled Banner played in the background. Television stations remained off the air until about 5 a.m. and people actually went to bed. Contrast this to today when there are “late shows”, “late late shows” and thanks to cable and satellite media, programming is available around the clock. (Freerepublic.com). Many times television has become the background noise while surfing the internet, texting on mobile phones, or answering emails, a phenomenon known as second screen viewing. Especially since the 21st century, and the dawn of the digital age, Americans are trying to fit more into their already overloaded schedules. When they can’t do everything in a 24 hour period, they carve the extra time out of sleep time.(thecharts.cnn.com). The 24/7 availability of media contributes to today 's problem of sleep deprivation. The rising incidences of drowsy driving accidents and deaths coincides with the evolution of the digital lifestyle in our modern society. Most drivers are not getting enough sleep each night, in part driven by the compelling need to stay connected around the clock and their addiction to electronic devices. Others experience sleep deprivation when they find themselves at work during a time normally reserved for sleep. …show more content…

before people are exposed to criminal penalty they deserve fair notice of what conduct is lawful and what is not. There is no measurable scale for drowsiness. Will the police be allowed to pull people over who appear too tired? There is no test for drowsiness. How will the arresting officer present evidence that the driver was guilty of driving drowsy? How can you enforce such a law? What proof is there that negligence took place?..........driving while sleepy should be a criminal offense. How likely are drivers to admit they are fatigued once the are aware of the potential for criminal prosecution?

(Point 2 counterpoint)driving while sleepy should be a criminal offense
Drivers do not fall asleep without warning. If a driver consciously decides to drive without the ability to remain alert they are putting themselves and others at risk in the same way that those who text and drive or drink and drive do, with the consequences just as devastating. Therefore, it should be treated the same by

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