Dangers of Driving While Texting At any given moment, one in five drivers around are texting on their phone while driving(Scholastic Action 2010). Cell phones have created a huge problem in America. Nearly 100 percent of vehicles have a cell phone in the car while driving, often times in arms reach. Crashes caused by distracted drives kill thousands of innocent people every year. In todays society Americans cannot go without a cell phone for several minutes. For instance in classes many students are on their phone before class starts. Driving distorted is very dangerous. I will tell you straightforward I catch myself texting and answering phone class while driving often. Because driving distorted is such a problem, writing this paper will …show more content…
The biggest problem is young adults and teenagers when you are young you think nothing will happen to you. In 2009 a study found that physically dialing a phone while driving increase the risk of a crash as much as six times(consumer reports 2011). When texting and talking on the phone it takes ones eyes off the road which causes you to be driving blind. In the society we live in today no one wants to miss out. We are so caught up are whats going on social media. For instance if you go out for dinner look around how many tables people are on their phones. If you cant put down your phone for dinner with friends and family what makes you think you will put the cell phone down while driving. Phones have taken over the universe. Texting while driving causes you to get to close to the vehicle in front of you, not being able to brake in time, and losing control. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration texting while driving is comparable to consuming four beers( Over the Edge 2014). Is that text/phone call while driving really worth a life? Example when driving down the interstate usually one runs into one of the big billboards and last week it read: 222 TRAFFIC DEATHS THIS YEAR, GET YOU HEAD OUT OF YOUR APPS AND DRIVE …show more content…
They are inexperiences which makes them a risky driver. According to one source, 47 percent of teenagers think they can text blindfolded(Gardner 2010). You throw cell phones on top of that it’s asking for trouble. A recent survey found that 51.4 percent of surveyed drivers between the ages of 16 to 19 have admitted to texting and driving(Gardner 2010). Furthermore nearly 100 percent of drivers agree that driving and texting increases chance of being in a car accident. Most drivers think that they are not the problem. The biggest thing to remember no text message is worth my life or another persons life. It takes honesty but I will not sign an online pledge to never text and drive because I would break it within a week. Another astounding fact is nearly 75 percent of teens admit that their friends text and drive. Many drivers blame others and think they are invincible. Dr.Steinberg explains why teens do it. “It’s hard for teens to rest checking messages.” he says. “Teens are so eager to fit in. They fear missing out. It takes real confidence in oneself to ‘unplug”(Scholastic action
Phones use while driving is one of the worst habits to have. Drivers who text while driving are twice as likely to crash than some who is drinking and driving (New Approaches to End Texting While Driving). Teenagers believe they are the best drivers and can multitask while driving. In order to text while driving you have to be looking at your phone. If you are looking phone you are not taking precaution to what in front of you. People think looking down for one second will not hurt. In one second anything could happen such as hitting someone or even running off the road. Other people ar...
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.
The Harvard Center of Risk Analysis preformed a study, they studied the road and people who text while they drive. Results show that texting behind the wheel causes 330,000 injuries and 2,600 deaths a year. People who talk or text on the phone are just as impaired or even more impaired as a drunk driver. A study was performed at the University of Utah, it shows that the participants crashed when they were texting while driving but when they were intoxicated, they did not crash. This shows that texting while driving takes your focus off of the road and into the conversation you are having on the phone. Also, the University of Utah has proven that hand free devices do not make driving any safer. But, driving with passengers and talking to them makes drivers safer. Passengers help inform drivers of possible risks on the
Texting while driving is national growing trend, and it is quickly becoming one of the country’s top killers. Most drivers think they can manage to text and drive and still stay safe on the roads; however, the numbers do not lie! According to the National Safety Council, 1,600,000 accidents per year are caused by someone who was texting and driving. Laws and penalties for this act are too lax, and tougher laws should be enforced.
This paper examines the dangers that arise when cell phones are used at the same time as operating a vehicle. The paper will explore the following question of why this is a problem and why the research is important. The variables investigated are the use of cell phones while driving, whether speaking or texting, and the accidents and fatalities caused from the distraction. Data of the accidents and fatalities caused by drivers distracted by their cells phones is stated to research and further explores the age group and gender of the people involved into the accidents to uncover patterns. Possible outcomes of the implementation of laws prohibiting cell phone use while driving are discussed as well as the sampling measures used to survey and research the variables.
“It’s the number one killer of teens” (Clark, 2013). A war is waging on throughout the streets of America. Everyday people risk their lives by driving. The enemy? Texting while driving. It is the act of composing, sending, or reading text messages while behind the wheels of a running vehicle. Driving under this influence is extremely careless and dangerous to others and is likely to cause accidents resulting in injuries or deaths. This problem is on the rise because the only ones with the power to make an impact against ending this war are law makers and law enforcement. The truth of the matter is law officials are losing the battle against people sending text messages while driving a car on the road. Law officials are mulling over the situation at hand, not doing enough to fight against the selfish crime. The laws regarding texting and driving are not fierce enough and law enforcement does not successfully apprehend the issue amongst drivers. “A Triple A study that found 9 out of 10 of its Arizona members want a texting and driving ban, but for the last 6 years, state lawmakers have rejected the bans” (Monier, 2013). Citizens desire more protection against this selfless crime, and more needs to be done. Law officials need to create laws regarding texting and driving including harsh penalties that would prove effective and then strictly enforce those laws on the streets because it is their sworn oath and duty to protect the citizens they represent from this unhandled danger.
Even though texting and driving is against the law, men and women of all ages are doing it on a regular basis. Statistically speaking, 23% of car accidents, which was about 1.3 million, involved cell phones in 2011 (“Texting and Driving..”). According to Edgar Snyder and Associates Law Firm out of Western Pennsylvania, “In 2011, 3,331 people were killed and 387,000 people were injured in accidents involving a distracted driver.” Along with those stats, and according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, “texting and driving kills 11 teens each day” (“Texting and Cell Phone..”). These numbers show how fatally dangerous texting and driving can be. As mentioned earlier, it is illegal, so humans shouldn’t be doing it in the first place. However, if someone gets caught, they could be looking at a ticket costing about, 135 dollars, not including the additional base fine, surcharge and the law library fee (“Texting and Driving, Challenges..”). If a person chooses to text and drive and...
One of the dangers of texting while driving at the same time is the attention it takes away from the road. A driver, who is focused on looking at their phone, is not paying enough attention to other cars or what is happening around them. Something as simple as a car stopping in front of them can cause serious damage to the driver and to the other car. “Texting” while driving is the act of composing, sending, or reading text messages, email, or making other similar use of the internet on a mobile device while operating a motor vehicle, such as an automobile, truck, or train (Reuters). Many people and authorities have viewed it as a dangerous practice. It is on occasion like this, where familiarity with the road and surrounding will not make it easier for the driver to look at their cell phone. The probabilities of drivers texting on the cell phone and getting into accidents are only getting higher. Cell phone use while driving accounts for a major cause of
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).
Does texting while driving is dangerous? Texting while driving might be common in the United States. However it’s illegal in most states since this situation is really dangerous for the driver and passengers. “Driving a vehicle while texting is six times more dangerous than driving while intoxicated, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)”. To put it another way, I totally coincide with them, driving a car while texting is extremely dangerous, from the time when the driver using at least four to six seconds on the phone to text furthermore send which is taking the eyes off the road for a split of seconds and that can be a reason of an accident.
Texting and driving is especially dangerous because it incorporates all types of driving distractions. 7 When texting and driving it takes you eyes off the road, hands off the steering wheel, and takes focus away from safe driving. Teens have a reaction time of a seventy year old when distracted while driving.8 Many teens don't realize how much time they have between the phone and the steering wheel, until the crash is over. When you chose to text and drive your not just threatening you own life.
The worst part of it all is that people know that is it dangerous- yet they still do it. According to the passage, 77 percent of young adults are very or somewhat confident that they can safely text and drive while 55 percent of young adult drivers claim it’s easy to text and drive. This is a safety risk that is accidents are the 5th leading cause of death. Teens who text while driving spend approximately 10% of their driving time outside of their lane.
Driving and using a phone is a psychological diversion and it is as impaired as driving affected by drugs or alcohol. These present generations have all ended up being dependent on our telephones. Cell phones make our lives less difficult from various perspectives, and we can check our email, make phone calls, send text messages, play music and go on social media, all promptly accessible at the palm of our hands and our fingertips. With this comfort, in any case, there is a downside to cell phones, and that is the time we decided to make a conscious decision to use them while driving. Most of us are guilty of using cell phones while driving, anyway have we anytime thought about its risk?
Walking down a street, on the bus, everywhere, people are on their phones. A seemingly harmless action can hide horrifying consequences. Texting and walking is just as harmful as texting and driving, and can be extremely harmful and can get people into accidents. However, precautions like educating people can be used to help reduce the amount of injuries sustained. If a law is passed against something, it must be bad, right?
Using a cell phone while driving can cause deadly car accidents .There is 97% of teen drivers that acknowledge danger by texting and driving . 21% of teen drivers were in accidents because they were distracted by their phones. Approximately 666,000 drivers attempt to use their phone while driving . While in a year there are 390,000 injuries each year .