Texting And Driving Essay

Kathleen Santos 2/4/14

60S English PD.3

Are the consequences for distracted driving strict enough? Everyday you see a driver distracted by phones, electronics, passengers, etc. Distracted driving can lead to horrible injures and fatal deaths. One of the most distractions while driving is texting. You see some drivers on the road with a phone in their hand. And I think that the texting while driving penalties should be more strict because texting while driving increases the risk of a crash or near-crash more than any other distraction (Kaplan 1).

Texting while driving is a widespread damage. “ Driver distractions have become a national problem, especially because cell phones use has increased (Jackson 1).” The National Safety Council estimates that nearly 28% of all vehicle crashes, or about 1.6 million each year, can be linked to talking on a cell phone or texting while driving (Jackson 1). And U.S. teens between the ages of 16 and 17, some 26 percent have texted from behind the wheel according to a Pew Internet & American Life Project Study (Jackson 1).

While texting while driving is a widespread damage, also it’s one of the most worst distraction. Justin McNaull, director of state relations for AAA, formerly known as the American Automobile Association says, “ Texting is the most dangerous activities for drivers because it involves taking your eyes and attention off the roadway.” “ Even taking your eyes off the road for two seconds doubles your chances of being in a crash (Jackson 1).” And drivers who were texting were 23.2 times more likely to crash than those drivers who weren’t texting (Jackson 2). For example when my uncle drives us to a place he does touch his phone but he uses it for GPS.

Do you think that they are te...

... middle of paper ...

...en teens said they have been in a risky situation like this (Madden 3). Younger teens between the age of 12-13 34% reported that the driver was using their cell phone in a dangerous way and teens between the age of 14-17 report the same thing but by 42% (Madden 3). One high school-aged boy shared that he would text “only at a stop sign or light but if it’s a call they have to wait or I’ll hand it to my brother or whoever is next to me (Madden 3).”

In the end, texting and driving is one of the most dangerous distractions to a driver at the wheel. I still think that the texting while driving penalties should be more strict because texting while driving increases the risk of a crash or near-crash more than any other distraction. If you are in a car and the driver is using their cell phone I think you should tell them to give the phone to you or turn off the cell phone.