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...
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
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.
So just how dangerous can texting while driving actually be? According to Monash University, “those drivers who use handheld devices while driving are four times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves” (qtd. in Wilson 1). This is not good because there are thousands of divers that are on the road at any given time. University of Utah reports, “Using a cell phone while driving, whether it’s handheld or hands-free, delays the driver’s reaction as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of 0.08%” (qtd. in Wilson 1). With more drivers out there that lead to the possibility that a crash could happen “The time it takes to is an average of 4.6 seconds, would be equal to traveling the length of a football field at 55mph visionless.” (Wilson 1). Carnegie Mellon reports, “that with the use of a mobile cellphone reduces the amount of brain activity by associated with driving by 37%” (qtd. in Wilson 1). The Nation...
The ability to drive is one of the greatest privileges anyone is allowed to receive, and should not be taken for granted. Many people though do not take this into consideration, and will often fail to realize that their doing something wrong when they are driving. Texting while driving is one of the most common mistakes people do while driving, and is most responsible for many car collisions, and deaths. Over the years many people are now using their phones while driving, and many of those people are teenagers, that are just starting off driving.
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.
There are some startling statistics about texting and driving. The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) stated that in 2008, 16% of all fatal crashes and 21% of all crashes were caused by texting and driving (Chordas; Hartwell). Over 50% of teens admit to using cell phones while driving (Hart; Paterson). That was over five years ago and even more people are texting and driving today. This shows that this problem is not going to go away.
...to it a simple text message, it is not worth dying. Creating a law to ban texting while driving may be a treatment for the symptom but it fails to address the root cause of the problem. The root cause is that people fail to stop and take the risk associated with texting while driving and take this matter seriously.
Also stated directly from the NHTSA is that, texting while driving takes driver’s eyes off of the road for an “average of 4.6 seconds” which is equivalent of driving an entire football field blindfolded if you are travelling fifty five miles per hour. Fatalities from texting while driving is the leading cause of death in teenaged drivers, however, forty seven percent of adults admit that they also text while driving. In Professor Hanson’s article, a study indicates that seventy five percent of people agree that there should be restrictions on all ages of people that text while driving, not just teenagers.
A group of friends drive around town and the driver receives a text. The driver decides to answer the text,veers into the other lane and hits an oncoming car. In the last seven years, the number of teens texting while driving has risen . Researchers at Cohen Children's Medical Center New Hyde Park estimated 3,000 annual teen deaths nationwide from texting and 300,000 injuries (Ricks). This is more than the number of teens who drink and drive. In comparison, 2,700 teens die from drinking and driving. Because of texting and driving, there has been an increase car crashes, teen injuries and teen deaths.
Texting and driving kills! A cell phone can be a bad distraction for anyone, especially if they are driving. Ever since the automobile was invented, there have been many distractions that drivers and those around them have had to worry about. ¨People take their hands off the wheel for many reasons.”(Three types of driving distractions.)People have been seen putting on makeup using their rear view mirror while driving down the road. Some people like to eat a 4-course meal while driving. People have been seen eating using a fork and spoon while driving. Another thing people have been seen doing is actually reading a book or magazine while behind the wheel! Distractions while driving may not have been as big a deal when the automobile was first
Texting while driving is also a dangerous driving habit. This is another reason people get into accidents. Drivers’ taking their eyes off the road and not paying attention to read a text message is too dangerous. It only takes a few seconds to look at your phone or maybe even a quick glance down can result into you rear ending someone in the back, running of the road, and running a red light. It
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 has been linked to the majority of vehicle accidents in the United States. That is why texting while driving is dangerous for all motorist, due to the number of deaths each year. People should be aware of all the dangers texting while driving can cause for motorist.
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 .