Texting and driving has become a real problem here lately, and something needs to be done before it gets worse. Some people in our society think that stricter laws should be implemented, but others think that the general public should be better educated. Although stricter laws may be effective latter on, but stricter laws would not be easy to enforce.
Should stricter laws pertain texting and driving be created. Stricter laws should be put in place, with heavier fine, so people won’t want to deal with the consequences. In Targeted News Service’s article “Laws, Education Not Enough to Curb Distracted Driving”, they use the opinions of two doctors, Jeffrey H. Coben and Motao Zhu, to tell that these laws should be implemented or improved. In the article they say, “Coben and Zhu strongly believe the federal government should take greater action, including setting new safety standards requiring the development and implementation of this technology” (Targeted News Service 2). If these laws were strengthened, then the general public would obey the law therefore make them be safer, and stop texting and driving because they would not want to face the consequences. Although stricter laws might work, they would probably not be effective until a person has interaction with the law or already faces the consequences. “For now, though, efforts to outlaw dialing-while-driving will be about as effective as the alcohol-banning 18th Amendment, ratified in 1919 and repealed in 1933” (USA Today A10). In the quotation it gives an example from the past, Prohibition, to show that this law will not be effectives.
Education is a superior deterrent to stricter laws because it has triumphed over the stricter laws in past debates for example, drunk driving a...
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As much as the government tries to think of a way to solve this problem, it will never go completely away. However the best way to better the problems is to better educate the drivers and future drivers of society of the dangers of distracted driving and to lead by example.
Works Cited
“Yes, Cellphones Can Be Dangerous. No, a Nationwide Ban Won’t Work.” USA TODAY. 16 Dec 2011: A.10. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 07 Nov 2013.
Genachowski, Julius. “Time to Put the Brakes on Texting and Driving.” Gannett News Service. 23 Sep 2012: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 11 Nov 2013.
"Laws, Education Not Enough to Curb Distracted Driving." Targeted News Service. 06 Mar 2013: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 15 Nov 2013.
MacDonald, Gregg. "Simulator Shows Dangers of Texting While Driving." Washington Post. 28 Mar 2013: T.23. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 15 Nov 2013.
Even if a driver reads the statistics of texting while driving, he or she will find a way to justify doing so. 77% of young adults are very or somewhat confident that they can safely text while driving and 55% of young drivers say that it’s easy to text while driving (“DWI” 1). These statistics are heartbreaking and unfortunate, because so many drivers don’t value the lives of passengers in their car or drivers on the road. While these teens may seem confident, it is still a dangerous problem. Since studies show that 10% of their driving time is spent outside of their lane (“DWI”
“Texting While Driving.” Issues & Controversies. Infobase Learning, 11 Oct. 2010. Web. 6 Apr. 2015.
The Editors. (2009). Should texting cellphone use by drivers be illegal?. The New York Times. Retrieved from www.thenewyorktimes.com
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.
The cell phone provider known as AT&T has produced several commercials to show the dangers of texting and driving. These are designed to grab people’s attention and to touch them in a small place in there heart to the point that they no longer feel the need to pick up their phone in the car. They stress over and over the dangers of reading just one text. There have even been safety precautions placed in teens vehicles that record them as well as the road while they are driving to catch any of this distracted behavior. 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 has owned 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 loosing someone they love, but we still to 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
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.
Hansen-Bundy, B. (2013, November 2). Why texting-while-driving bans don't work. Mother Jones, Retrieved from http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/10/texting-while-driving-bans-dont-make-a-difference
While it is true that laws do not stop one hundred percent of infractions, they serve as a great disincentive, and can greatly reduce the number of people who do text and drive. With less distracted driving there are fewer accidents, meaning fewer car repairs and hospital bills. Not only that, but it means that fewer people become injured and can even reduce the number of deaths. It is important, therefore, that laws be enacted to prohibit the use of cell phones while driving. Every automobile accident that a loved one of mine has experienced has been due to distracted driving. Whether it be friends or family, they all vividly recount a sense of distractedness from the other driver and anger at them for driving recklessly. With this in mind, it becomes more than just an issue of nationwide expenses, it is a personal worry of mine that I or someone I love will be seriously injured in an accident caused by cell phone use. Especially considering that nearly all of my friends have now gotten their licenses and are on the roads, I want them to be as safe as possible. Laws prohibiting cell phone use and distracted driving are therefore very important to me, as they are just one of the necessary steps that our country must take in order to reduce the number of accidents and increase safety
Jackson, Nancy Mann. "Cell Phones and Texting Endanger Teen Drivers." Teen Driving. Ed. Michele Siuda Jacques. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. At Issue. Rpt. from "Dn't txt n drv: Why You Should Disconnect While Driving." Current Health Teens (Mar. 2011).Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 6 Apr. 2014.
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.
These laws would make it illegal to text and drive and impose penalties, such as fines, for those caught engaging in this activity. Some states have already passed such legislation. In Maryland, for instance, people can receive a ticket that costs up to $500 if they choose to text while behind the wheel (“Texting While Driving: Should the Government Ban Texting While Driving?”). Knowing this will cost them money, people may think twice before they decide to text and drive, and fewer drivers will engage in this risky activity. Since sending and reading messages is the most dangerous distraction posed by cell phones, this type of legislation alone will go a long way in making the roads safer for everyone by reducing the number of texting motorists. Although rules that regulate driver’s use of mobile phones might deter some from playing with these devices while driving, it most certainly will not stop everyone from messing with their phones when they should be focusing their attention on the
Everyday there are people who commute on streets and highways, they are trying to get to where they want to go. The biggest dilemma is ‘how’ they get to their destination not many of us pay attention, but 97% of us drive with distractions. The other percentages consists of six consequently dangerous ways, which include, texting, drinking, applying makeup, reading, eating, and arguing with others while behind the wheel. All of these are very hazardous, costly, and sadly deadly. Distracted drivers put lives in jeopardy everyday and if a ticket saves a life, then it would be worth it and hopefully make the person realize that the text can wait. Some may say that teenagers are the more prone to be distracted while behind the wheel but its not just them, everyday people are susceptible to this, moms, dads, businessmen, etc. it is irresponsible of any person not including, police officers who pull over and park their cruiser so they may use any device they have. Not every state has laws to prevent all forms of distractions behind the wheel. But there are a some laws that ban Driving while intoxicated and texting while in school zones. According to the CDC each day in the United States nine more people are killed then 1060 crashes are reported involving a distracted driver.” Several innocent drivers are put in unpredictable situations having to be surrounded by distracted drivers, we all have to drive for each other and it is especially harder when people are not paying attention to the road. The numbers of people being killed in crashes involving a distracted driver has increased and is expected to rise with the expansion of technology. Distracted driving can increase chances of a possible vehicle crash. There is no specific group that...
But this is not true. Every State has different laws when it comes to traffic safety, because of this some distracted drivers can even get off with little to no penalties or fines even if they cause a fatal accident. For example, A teen at Massachusetts was convicted of homicide as a result of texting while driving and was only given one year in prison (CNN Wire). In California the most amount of money you can be charged for texting while driving is just $20, that is the lowest amount of money in the entire country, but in Alaska if caught you will be fined $10,000 and you must serve one year in prison (Raja Tasneem, Benjy Hansen-Bundy). When we see certain types of driving the is reckless we wisely make special laws and make those types of driving illegal. Running red lights, not stopping for a school bus, and drunk driving these are all obvious examples we should make texting and driving illegal. Laws that are passed in counties and towns have made a difference but not enough to stop texting and driving
“Texting While Driving.” Gale Student Resources in Context. Detroit: Gale, 2012. Student Resources in Context. Web. 21 Nov. 2013
Now that you know how texting and driving is affecting our nation, let’s talk about different ways to prevent it from causing deaths.