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An essay on distracted driving
An essay on distracted driving
Impact of texting and driving
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Preventing Distracted Driving I don’t want to come off as some hypocrite; preaching to others something that I am unwilling to do. I admit that I have had problems with texting while driving. The day that helped me realize that I needed to change was about 3 months ago; I was driving home from work and I was getting off the freeway, when I got a text message from someone at work. I foolishly decided to answer it right away. When I looked up I saw that I had veered way too far to the left and was going off the road. Unfortunately, the off ramp was one that went up to an overpass, so when I went off the road it was down a steep decline. I thought my ford ranger was going to roll over. It was the most terrifying 10 seconds of bouncing and sliding …show more content…
We can say “I will not text and drive anymore”, but how long will that pledge last? For me it lasted about 3 weeks until I started again after my almost accident. We may see a video on Facebook about the dangers of it and we get really concerned then we tell ourselves that we will never do it again, but when your best friend Tina texts you about the dance this weekend you just can’t help it and totally forget about that resolve you had to not text anymore. Next option; the government can make a law that puts a huge fine on you if your caught texting and driving. According to the National Conference of State Legislators (2015) 14 States have banned the use of hand-held cell phones, and 46 states have banned texting while driving. These bans are starting to result in a decline in accidents; according to Distraction.Gov (the Governments official website about distracted driving) in 2013 there were only 3,154 people killed in distracted driving related accidents. This is significantly less than the stats for 2009. However, there were 3, 154 families that lost loved ones in 2013. So we need something more to help us because we are still thinking playing clash of clans while driving is worth the potentially huge fine. There are groups that can meet together to support one another in stopping distracted driving. These groups do make a difference, but are not able to prevent the masses from this
As Americans have seen an increase in the amount of texting and driving, there have been several of the 50 states that have put laws in place to help try and put a reduction on the amount of fatalities. The devastating part about this kind of distraction is that nearly every person that owns a cell phone has picked it up at some point while they are driving to make a phone call or send a quick text. They have seen the commercials and they know the hurt that it has caused many families losing someone they love, but we still do it anyways. It’s so easy to tell yourself “It’s just one quick text, I will be fine.” At some point we need to realize this is not ok.
There are approximately 5,400 deaths per year that are linked to distracted driving, and thousands more were injured. (U.S. Department of Labor). Those fatalities are our neighbors, close friends, and even family. How can we prevent this from being so prominent? How can we make the roads a safe place to be again? These questions have many different answers, but many prove to be un-effective. I believe that the best and only way to resolve this issue is to implement tougher laws on cell-phone use in vehicles, and educate our youth to the best of our abilities on the dangers of distracted driving.
Studies also show drunk driving is actually statistically safer than texting and driving. In my observation as my family was traveling to Wisconsin, I put tallies on my notebook to record the results of passing drivers. The results were surprising in that 1 out of 8 kids and 1 out of 5 adults in passing cars were distracted while driving. These statistics are actually scary to me because I will never know which one will make a mistake when I am around them on the road. The negative effects this problem causes death and serious injury to themselves and others. It also effects the distracted drivers by placing others around them in harm. As more people text on the roads the drivers will get too familiar texting and driving. According to most statistics, that’s when most mistakes happen. Phone and car companies allow this behavior to happen simultaneously. Phone companies are making their product easier to be distracted, as the technology is addicting to use for the consumers. The notifications from the phone distract most humans from accomplishing their tasks. The phone pings or sounds and the driver looks down. Car companies are now installing Wi-Fi in the newest cars of our generation. The WI-FI is active for all passengers. The distraction element is also active for
Those that think it is ok to text and drive do not realize how much harm, and danger they are putting their lives at, and the lives of others that are on the road as well. Even if one thinks that they are a good enough driver to be on their phone while they drive, still are not guaranteed that they will not get in an accident. No matter how much someone has been driving, or how good they are does not mean they should be using their phones, because just by taking a glance at their phone for a second could instantly change their lives, if they were to ever get in a car crash, or hurt another human
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.
I seem to be the only one who doesn’t touch their phone while driving. I don’t text and drive because I have seen the Oprah Winfrey show clip on texting and driving that has scared me for the rest of my life. I don’t want to be that teen that didn’t listen to the law and end up killing another teen and then having to face that family and explain to them that I was texting and driving. I also think it is really selfish, it is kind of like saying this text message is more important than the person in front of me. I also have done a lot of paper on texting and driving and that is why I don’t text and drive, I don’t want to be a hypocrite and go against everything I say about not doing it.
Texting and driving is a deadly issue in today 's generation. Using our cellphones while driving is a damaging habit among teens and adults. This habit caused many catastrophic accidents and deaths. Texting while driving has made the roads unsafe for other drivers. Many states recognize the immense threat resulting from texting and driving and have placed a ban on this epidemic. While many people realize texting and driving is hazardous others believe that the ban is useless and not strong enough of a solution.
“Nearly four years ago, Ashley Zumbrunnen 's life was forever changed in the blink of an eye. She was partially paralyzed in a car accident. The reason? She was texting while driving” (7 KTVB.COM). Do you think texting while driving is worth it? I do not think a text is worth a life, if I was her I would have waited to text my husband. Here story goes as follows “I was on my way on my way to work, said Zumbrunnen about the morning of the crash. I took out my cell phone, and I wanted to say 'I love you, have a good day ' to my husband” (7 KTVB.COM). She could have waited to text her husband but instead she decided to send a cute message to her husband causing the following “while typing a text message, she crossed Highway 55 into oncoming traffic. I over-corrected, I lost control of my vehicle, said Zumbrunnen. I felt like I was in a washing machine. Then all of a sudden, I flipped and flew in the air. I felt my body flying in the air” (7 KTVB.COM). Just by watching her video online and hearing her tell us her story makes me want to cry, it is such a sad story that texting and driving can change someone’s life. Who would have ever thought that in a blink of an eye you can go paralyzed or even die for doing such little thing?
But studies show these people are wrong. The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that, “ text messaging creates a crash risk 23 times worse than driving while not distracted.” Texting and driving is a very serious on going issue. One text can hurt. It has the power to take a life. Lets lower the percent of accidents caused by texting and driving. Let your friends know you are getting in the car, and are going to be temporarily unavailable. They will understand. Learn from the stories. Learn from the people who have done it, and payed the price for it. This issue should be taken seriously. Too many innocent lives have been lost all because one person could not resist seeing what their friend said. Put down the phone, and keep your eyes on the road at all times. One text can
Whether it is a text massage from love one or a bite of a sandwich, it is not so important than a human life. Distracted driving is an epidemic, so more tough laws should be implemented. The law for distracted driving should be tough just like a driving under influence. Distracting driving is a killer on the road, it should be banned because, it is the number one killer of the U.S. teenager in the road, not only the teenager in the road, but also cause a collision which is often fatal, and some incident were driver or one who involve on an accident became disable. Distraction is an involvement of driver where his or hers eye or mind are engage and performing on other things rather than driving, such as while talking on
“It’s the number one killer of teens” (Clark, 2013). A war is waging on throughout the streets of America. Everyday people risk their lives by driving. The enemy? Texting while driving. It is the act of composing, sending, or reading text messages while behind the wheels of a running vehicle. Driving under this influence is extremely careless and dangerous to others and is likely to cause accidents resulting in injuries or deaths. This problem is on the rise because the only ones with the power to make an impact against ending this war are law makers and law enforcement. The truth of the matter is law officials are losing the battle against people sending text messages while driving a car on the road. Law officials are mulling over the situation at hand, not doing enough to fight against the selfish crime. The laws regarding texting and driving are not fierce enough and law enforcement does not successfully apprehend the issue amongst drivers. “A Triple A study that found 9 out of 10 of its Arizona members want a texting and driving ban, but for the last 6 years, state lawmakers have rejected the bans” (Monier, 2013). Citizens desire more protection against this selfless crime, and more needs to be done. Law officials need to create laws regarding texting and driving including harsh penalties that would prove effective and then strictly enforce those laws on the streets because it is their sworn oath and duty to protect the citizens they represent from this unhandled danger.
Distracted driving is an issue that needs to be addressed. “When drivers who had an accident or near-accident due to distracted driving were asked, many said they would repeat the hazardous behavior” (Brody). Many states have enacted texting bans, but that does not seem to be enough. In survey conducted by AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 67 percent of drivers surveyed admitted to talking on the phone while driving and 21 percent had been texted (Richtel). One solution might be to require drivers to stow devices such as cell phones. If driver seen with access to a distracting device a citation should be issue. When people are reprimanded with monetary losses, they tend to change their behavior. Multiple offenders should be subject to the loss of their driving privileges similar speeders. Common sense, with distraction laws, should come into play. It would seem arbitrary to give drivers tickets if their passengers were using any such devices like cell phones. If distracted driving laws existed, insurance compa...
There is a high percentage of people that spend a majority of their day sitting behind the wheel of a vehicle. Whether it is commuting to work, taking the kids to school, running errands, or simply going out to eat one may feel that their car has become a second home. With so much time spent behind the wheel, drivers become comfortable and incorporate distracting activities while trying to remain focused on the road. Our inability to put our cell phones away while driving is inexcusable. Drivers who choose to use mobile devices are endangering people’s lives and property with associated risks that are not acceptable. No one distracted driver is better than the next. Do to rising accidents
Cell phones now has been known to kill thousands of people. Lately there has not been a day where there is no accident, death or injury due to someone driving while using their cell phone. On May 17th, 2013, fox 4 news “teen dies in accident while texting”. Fox9.com “police: Byron teen killed in crash on first day of school was texting”. CBS 6 news “Girl’s heartbreaking story will make you think twice before texting while driving”. These were just 3 examples of how texting and driving could be so dangerous, yet we chose to ignore it. Over the past years there have been way too many innocent people that are losing their lives due to the reckless drivers that are around. Drivers must give a 100% of their attention to the road. We are living in an era where technology has been taking over our
A solution for the use of phones while driving would be getting all state legislators to pass a law making texting and driving illegal. Many people may ignore a texting and driving law but making phones illegal while driving will help reduce car accidents caused by phones. To make texting and driving even harder for people to do, all state legislators need to mandate a law making all cars have a manufactured device installed to deactivate their phone while the car is in motion. Deactivating drivers phone will help minimize distraction and make