The Consequences of Using Electronic Devices While Driving

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To Ban or Not to Ban? In the past twenty years, our society has experienced a tremendous boom in the advancement of technology. From smartphones, to portable GPS units, to advanced radio systems, there is no doubt our society’s technological discoveries have grown rapidly. Often than not, when a nations technology advancements grow, there is usually a price that comes with it. Will it be safe for the consumer? Or more specifically, is it safe to use while the consumer is behind the wheel of a moving vehicle? Although some may disagree on prohibiting the use of electronic devices while behind the wheel of a moving vehicle, many already support the ban on such devices while driving, because it poses high safety risks for not only the driver of that vehicle, but also to other drivers on the road. Let us focus our attention to three main devices we cannot travel without— our smartphones, our vehicles radio system, and our handy GPS units. It is not very uncommon to spot one, if not all, of these devices in somebody’s car nowadays. We rely heavily on our technologies to make it easier for us to communicate with our loved ones, to route us to our destination, and to keep us alert and entertained on our long road trips. Rarely, though, do we consider any of these acts to be a hazard to ourselves or to others. Although the radio systems in our cars and trucks are a great source to keep us entertained during our trips, they can be a huge safety hazard to not only ourselves, but also to other drivers sharing the road with us. When a driver takes his or her eyes off of the road to change the channel on their radio or to turn the volume dial up or down, they can veer into oncoming traffic or strike a pedestrian. Distracted driving is ... ... middle of paper ... ...drivers are not aware of the consequences of using electronic devices while behind the wheel of a vehicle. It is so important to educate ourselves and those around us of the dangers distracted driving can cause in such a short amount of time. I urge you and your loved ones to support the ban on using these devices while driving. Works Cited National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Distraction.Gov. U.S. Department of Transportation. n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2014. < http://www.distraction.gov/content/get-the-facts/ facts-and-statistics.html >. Driver Distractions - Don’t Be a Statistic. Department of Motor Vehicles. Apr. 2011. Web. 20 Mar. 2014. < http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffdl28.htm >. “Attributable Risk Summary 2012 Estimates.” National Safety Council. 2012. PDF file.

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