I believe that the law was rightfully created because using your phone while driving is distracting, it could kill someone, or cause you trauma due to an accident. First of all, whether you are texting or taking a call doesn't matter. Texting takes your mind and eyes off of the road just like calling takes your mind off of driving safely. Sure you look up from your phone every few seconds, but depending on your speed an accident could occur within the amount of time you glance at a message. When you're talking on the phone you're caught up in the conversation and not paying attention to that guy that just cut you off. Both texting and calling distract you from driving safely. Next, think about what you would do if you did take a life. Keep driving, or call an ambulance? There's no going back. Obviously, a life can never be gained back once it is gone. Back in 2011, Rachel N. Gannon,16, of Kansas City was texting and driving when she lost control of her vehicle and caused an accident that killed Loretta J. Larimer who was 72. Gannon was allegedly looking at her cell phone and texting when she ran off the side of the road. When …show more content…
Take it from someone who has had a brother do this, it is not pretty. Paying for damages, injuries, and therapy gets expensive. If you think insurance will cover you you're crazy. Maybe crazy isnt the right word, going through a traumatic experience can cause PTSD or cause you to feel disconnected. In order to stay mentally fit, please, don't touch your phone while driving. Does being on the phone while you drive sound okay now? I really hope not, Rachel N. Gannon's punishment occurred before this law was enacted. Now, the punishment will be even more severe. If you look at the big picture, this law is a great thing, you may never get in an accident because of someone on the phone but this law decreases the chances of someone's life being
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
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
On Labor Day 2007, twenty-six-year-old Hilary Coltharp was going to meet her family then something tragic happened. I agree that no texting while driving law should exist because it is a distraction from the road, it causes a big risk of a car accident, and the damage from car accidents can be deadly. Many people lose their lives to texting and driving accidents. The damage that accident can do can change your whole life. All states should enforce this law for the safety of all civilians.
Miller an eighteen-year-old who veered into oncoming traffic and hit another car head-on while she was texting. She and the other driver, a 40-year-old mother of one, were killed instantly. Not only do these teens texting and driving kill and endanger themselves they are hazardous to other pedestrians who drive safely and responsibly.
Across the globe family and friends are losing their loved ones to fatal texting and driving accidents. These days, many strive to be connected with the world and their friends by using mobile devices. The problem is that numerous people tend to do so at bad times. For example, while one is driving, it is common to look down at the cell phone to send a short text message that could put their lives in harm. Across the nation, numerous advertising and support groups are spreading the word to encourage society to put phones down and focus on driving instead of texting. However, it really hasn’t stopped. There needs to be a significant change and with the way technology is advancing, there is an immediate, attainable action that can be accomplished.
In order to understand texting while driving, a person must have some background on the subject. “Texting should be illegal,” (Whiting, 2). I believe texting while driving should be outlawed. It’s truly one of the biggest causes of accidents. Texting and driving is so much more critical than drunk driving. “I have seen driver after driver on cellphones so focused on calls that they are a hazard to me and others,” (Elswick, 2). Most people don’t realize how dangerous texting while driving really is. People take that action too lightly. There is a major life threatening decision you make every time you are behind the wheel.
Texting and driving can wait but this law can not wait another day! Insurance companys are taking action, automotive production companys are trying to accomidate to new technology so why can 't the laws? There have been numerous reports on the news about people paying attention to their cellphone while driving and getting into what can sometimes be a fatal accident where multiple people are either hurt or killed. Nobody is safe from distracted driving as we all share the same roads. Who has to die next before action is
First and foremost, the risk of using a phone while driving is a big chance of an accident more than what the people think. According to the Harvard study “Texting while driving and other forms of distracted driving are responsible for more than 1 million crashes, 400,000 injuries, and 3,000 deaths in the U.S. each year—and those numbers are likely to in...
Texting while driving is referred to as distracted driving. "Distracted driving continues to be the number one leading cause of car accidents in America. Talking on the phone, texting, eating, reading, grooming, and talking are just some of the ways drivers get distracted behind the wheel. Drivers who use a hand-held device are 4 times more likely to get into a car accident than drivers that pay attention to the road ahead. Individuals who text message while driving are 23 times more likely to get into an accident. Do not risk your safety or your life. Put everything down and pay attention to the road ahead. It is the single most important thing you can do today to reduce your risk of getting into a
The article covered Liz Marks story of her accident while texting and driving. She, like most teenagers, adored her phone. She could not “survive” without her phone because she likes being “connected” with her friends through social media. One day she was driving, while driving she received a text from her mom. She looked at the text and at that instant she crashed. The crash left her blind in one eye, trouble hearing, not able smell well, not able to shed tears, and not able to sleep without medication. She went from being a popular girl in school and having many friends to lonely and no friends. The article shows the dangers of texting and driving. A text can always wait when
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
Even a traffic police officer cannot stop a driver who is simultaneously texting and operating a vehicle. He is only allowed to stop a driver who is over speeding or is drunk while driving. In addition to this, at this point in time, no national ban exists on using a wireless phone or texting and driving. In fact, a number of states have imposed a ban on texting or using devices while operating a car. In addition to this, hands free have to be used for listening to a call when driving a car. However, laws alone can’t make any difference if the change of approach is not undertaken by people
An Adesman stated that, “A person who is texting can be as impaired as a driver who is legally drunk.” A car traveling at 55mph covers the length of a football field in five seconds. The average person who sends out text messages while driving spends on average about eight seconds of looking down at their phone. Approximately 10% of driving time is spent outside of their original lane, by drifting while texting. “There's a difference between driving and texting. When you’re driving your eyes have to be open and on the road watching the cars around you, road signs, and traffic lights. Along with your mind on the road and destination. Which means you are multitasking. When your texting your eyes are on your cell phone screen and key pad. Along with your mind on what you’re going to say next. So how can you do both?” This quote was written by Johnathan Anthony Burkett who wrote the story Neglected but Undefeated. The chances of getting into a car crash are increased four times more than those who are not distracted. Texting while driving involves manual, visual, and the mental ability of a driver which makes messaging while driving one of the worst distractions.
Also, there are cases when mobile phones use while driving becomes important. Such happens when people need to respond to emergencies. Mobile phones are primarily used for communication purposes. Mobile phone use while driving if banned might show that the government is impeding the right to communicate. The government just needs to ensure that mobile phone users are also responsible enough. This is done through rigorous dialogue and not those proposed legislations. For example, mobile phones is necessary if someone is chasing you in a car, then you might have to call the police. If there is an emergency, like someone was sent to the hospital, it would be nice to be able to receive that information, even if you are driving.