I believe that California should have stricter punishment for motorist who text and drive I also believe that stricter punishments would ensure that distracted driver will adhear to the law and keep our streets and roads safe from people who chose to put others at risk just because they feel it necessary to send a texts while driving. On September 28, 2008 then-Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law legislation that prohibited the transmission of text messages while operating a motor vehicle and fines for first time offender would be $20.00 and second time offender 50.00. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety “Cell phone talking and texting combined were cited by 35.6 percent of respondents as being the biggest safety problems, down from 38.8 percent in 2011, but higher than the 18.3 percent in 2010.” In addition the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) distracted driving is a growing public safety hazard. Specifically, the dramatic rise in texting volumes since 2005 appeared to be contributing to an alarming rise in distracted driving fatalities. This is a real problem because the are the numbers are simply not decreasing enough to make a real impact on the safety of the drivers on the rode ways. Using text to communicate is very common, its used in everyday living. Its become such a quick means to communicate that some people even text while operating their motor vehicles, but let me pose to you this question. Do you know of someone who has lost a family member or close personal friend due to texting and driving while operating a motor vehicle? I know for certain that I know of at least once instance where I've sat at a stop light and seen the person next to me on their cell phone texting away, checking face book or snapping pictures. Can you imagine being that person who killed someone else or even yourself for that matter just because you wanted to send out that quick message through text? I have over the course of two years been in four accidents involving a person distracted by being on their call phone either through text. Luckily there weren't any substantial injuries or damages involved, but things could been much worst. Althought the argument against texting, viewing or any form of distracted driving seems to be very clear a new report submitted by The National Traffic Safety Board imply that driving while texting is in their words “is totally fine” and “not that big a deal” just make sure you look away from your phone every so often.
The Editors. (2009). Should texting cellphone use by drivers be illegal?. The New York Times. Retrieved from www.thenewyorktimes.com
Texting and Driving has been a huge factor in accidents. More and more cities are starting to make cell phone use illegal to prevent many life threatening accidents. A phone call and text message can wait. You never know as drivers what the people are doing around you are doing unless you are watching your surroundings. The driver might be a really good driver and might be paying some attention to the road while you are on your phone but the road needs all of the drivers attention so that prevention of accidents is at its
One day Chandler Gerber 23, of Bluffton collided with an Amish buggy back in April of 2012. A three year old boy and a five year old girl were killed. A 17 year old boy who was in critical condition died several days later. Chandler was sending a text that said “ I love you” to his wife when he caused the accident. Drivers who were texting were 23.2 times more likely to crash to those who weren’t texting (Cell Phones and Texting). The increasing amount of crashes caused from texting and driving and growing and becoming more of a problem. Distracted driving is an increasing problem in the United States resulting in many accidents, but a solution to the problem would be banning cellphones while driving.
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.
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...
Eleven percent of all drivers under the age of 20 are involved in fatal crashes every year (Dr. Williams, 2010). All of those accidents have been reported as being distracted at the time of the crash. Admit it some people cannot resist those text messaged that’s coming to their phone. I would totally encourage people to stop texting while driving.
They believe they can multitask and say looking up from their phones every couple of seconds is enough. Although this has worked for many people thus far, it is not okay to put their life or anyone else at risk. In those couple of seconds a person could lose their life. There was a 16 year old girl who was charged with manslaughter after accidentally killing a women because she was texting and driving. The young girl was allegedly texting when she lost control of her vehicle and collided with a car killing the driver.
Cell phone distracted driving has become as dangerous as alcohol and speeding resulting in fatal and serious injury crashes. Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice said Monday her office will begin mandating cellphone monitoring devices in some texting-while-driving cases prosecuted by her office (Newsday). She further states “Studies by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and other organizations that show driving while texting makes it 23 times more likely that the driver will crash and six times more likely to cause an accident than driving while intoxicated.(Newsday) This is an unbelievable statistic. According to (Distraction) 71% of young adults have said they have sent a message while driving and 78% have said
Some, more than others, have nothing bad to say about texting while driving. The only thing one could positively say about texting while driving is that it does conveniently relay a message between a peer and another within moments of being sent. With that being said, even though it is very convenient, texting while driving is still dangerous. Right now through technology changes to adapt and change with the times, engineers are creating more hands free devices in automobiles to limit the interaction with ones phone while driving or operating the vehicle. One would agree that it is hard to keep focused with all the new technology around but, technology itself is being re-mastered to serve humans in the safe category as well. Of course one would say that they are good at multi-tasking when in reality there is no such thing but, new arriving technology would allow one to do what is needed to be done with the phone through voice command such as in “Text Joe, I’m on my way”. Quick communication is awesome and convenient but not will operating a
Texting while driving should be illegal in every state due to many reasons of safety. A person 's life is far more valuable than any text message ever will be, no text message is worth the cost of risking the life of yourself and the life of others while behind a motorized vehicle. Being on the phone and texting while driving becomes more and more common on a day to day basis. Safety, well-being, and protection are all ways you can simply take care of yourself, but if you won’t take the time to do it no one will. Only you can help yourself when it comes to your safety and well-being, taking your eyes off of the road to look down, around or anywhere other than watching the road is putting not only yourself but others well at risk of an accident. Texting while driving can border your senses as a driver to not be able to respond when a car comes out of no where, or is even near you.
According to the National Highway Safety Administration, nearly 5,000 people were killed and 76,000 were injured in a traffic collision in the united states cause by Texting/ Talking on the roads which are a lot, don’t you think? Also as a result to Governors Highway Safety Association said, since 2009 there have been 15 percent increases every year in people’s death which is unnecessary, as a result in 2013, 4 700 deaths, equaling to one-person death in the U.S every two hours which in my opinion is not necessary since we are choosing our moves and we don’t have to text while driving, like we can text when we get to our destination or we can always stop your vehicle on the side of the road, where no cars will be and then text or talk since we are not going to put anyone around us in a risky
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
In a survey that Dr. David Greenfield created it stated that ¾ of the people admitted that they usually check their phones while they are driving. Greenfield told Fox-news. “People drive more erratically when they’re texting than when they’re drinking and driving [and] we know that people are six times more likely to be in an accident if they’re texting and driving,” This is dangerous because if the people get into a big and serious accident they are not only hurting themselves but they are hurting the other people in the other car. They are taking away their dreams, and their goals in life all because they couldn’t keep away from their phones. One simple text can ruin your life
We all have done it, been in the car while someone else has done it or have looked over and seen the person in the car next to you doing it. That’s right texting while driving. This is a very bad and dangerous habit. It has very little consequences if one is found texting while driving. There is a ton of technology today that can be used, that is hands free, if something really needs to be said to someone. Many may not agree but texting and driving should be illegal.
Text messaging while driving is captivating and puts the driver at great risk. Texting or sending email while driving requires mental, physical, cognitive attention. Therefore, your attention on the road is less. Less attention means to put yourself and surroundings in danger. Teens and phones are a problem as it is. They are attached to their phone all the time, and, when they start driving cannot put it away. But, is answer a message on social media more important than your own life or others? A text message or email can wait for your own safety and your