Anyone who drives would more than likely admit to being distracted while driving. Many forms of distraction exist while driving. The most common forms include texting while driving, focusing the mind on something else, and talking with others in the car. The distractions people take part in create many serious problems like death. People do not realize that the smallest distractions can result in a life changing event. The issue of distracted driving has had some laws against it, but the laws do not do enough. Distracted driving needs stricter laws because major issues result from it including death or serious injuries Many forms of distracted driving exist and cause many problems. Teddi Johnson states the definition for distracted driving …show more content…
Three of the high risk behaviors account for texting and driving including “eyes off of the road, at least one hand off the wheel, and mind off the driving situation” (Hollister, 2013). The three actions a person partakes in while texting and driving fall into the three major categories the Center for Disease Control established. Once people begin texting and driving, they no longer pay attention to their driving and only their phone or tablet. Distracted driving takes away the reaction time of a driver from avoiding a crash. Comprehending danger while driving takes multiple seconds. A distracted driver would travel the length of a football field when driving sixty miles per hour (Hollister, 2013). The length and amount of time could cause a horrific accident. Traffic safety researchers at Virginia Tech also recognized that those who participate in the act of texting and driving will be twenty-three times more likely to crash (Johnson, 2012). Everyone can see the evidence that distracted driving exists, specifically texting and driving. The people need to recognize it. Texting and driving has caused many deaths among teens and others, and many families grieve every day, wishing that the worst action anyone can do while driving to become illegal. In the year 2009, 5,500 people died in texting and driving related accidents (Johnson, 2012). From then the numbers only go up because of the growth of technology. Since the issue has grown and causing more and more problems, laws need to change and become stricter to fit the new forms of
To put it another way most experience drivers don’t feel they’re totally distracted from the road even if their attention is somewhere else. However, being distracted while driving, doesn’t only involve the use of our phones. Distracted driving is any action that involves you taking your eye’s, mind or hand of the wheel while driving. For example; eating, drinking while driving or talking on the cellphone, are a few actions that, causes a distraction while on the road. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) there are three kinds of distracted driving: manual, visual, and cognitive (Adminstration, n.d.).
It’s amazing how many people will still drive distracted, either by texting, talking on the phone, or even not paying attention to what is in front of them. Over 5,000 distracted driver crashes have occurred in Utah in a year. This has resulted in 3,000 injured and almost 20 deaths. Wouldn 't you think that would be enough to make people think and see what is happening? Texting or looking at your phone is now illegal in most states yet so many people still do it.
Texting or calling while driving can subtract from the attention you are giving to your surrounding, and poses a serious hazard to the citizens around you. While there are ways to avoid texting and driving, there will always be some individuals who will choose to text and drive, so the only way to ensure that people do not text and drive is to put laws in place that punish folks who decide to put others in harm’s way. Cell phones and smartphones are a huge advantage in today’s society. They allow us to communicate with friends, family, coworkers, etc… This technology is normally beneficial, but there are times when you need to put your phone aside and pay attention to what is physically happening around you. One of these times is when you
A highly effective approach to the problem of distracted driving is to make its penalties as severe as DUI penalties. This dangerous driving behavior, which has become a national pandemic, refers to objects or activities (either internal or external) that cause a diversion in the driver’s attention. As a result, the driver switches focus to a non-driving activity—such as using a cellphone, eating a meal, or looking at a billboard. The current fine imposed by the State of California for using electronic devices behind the wheel is only $20, the lowest in the country, for a first-time offense (Bundy and Raja,1). Contrast that with a first-time DUI offender who faces a six-month jail time and a heavy fine of up to $3,000.
EBSCOhost, doi:10.1016/j.aap.2017.02.016. He, J., et al. " Texting While Driving:
Using a cell phone while driving is dangerous and could be deadly. 1. The severity of distracted driving can range from a totaled car to devastating injuries or fatalities. Most drivers do not realize they are not only putting themselves in danger when they drive distracted. They are also endangering those around them as well.
While many drivers took a driver's education class before obtaining a driver's license, the effectiveness of these courses has recently been broadly questioned. In the specific context of distracted driving, I believe that education courses could be more impactful in highlighting the negative consequences of distracted driving. Interactive learning solutions such as time simulations exhibiting things such as how long it takes to type and send a text message and how far a vehicle can travel in that brief time could be integrated into the curriculum along with the statistics that are already usually emphasized to exhibit the dangers of distracted driving. Further, continuing education requirements could be implemented so that, over the years as individuals drive, they are reminded of the facts about how distracted driving negativity impacts driving ability. This more accessible teaching about distracted driving and more frequent encounters with the danger that it presents could also contribute to putting an end to
In fact, according to “Distracted Driving Is Now an Epidemic in the U.S.”, “U.S. fatalities from traffic accidents rose 7.2% last year to 35,092—the largest increase in 50 years—and distracted driving played a role in 10% of those deaths... fatalities from “distraction-affected” crashes increased 8.8% to 3,477 from 3,197… ”(Distracted Driving Is Now an Epidemic in the U.S.). Distracted driving has such a big impact in our life because it has such a big impact on the ability to drive. “Texting & Driving” states, “driving with a
If you look around everyone has or is on a cellphone or any sort of device. It could be any texting, calling, games, social media. But everyone should know how dangerous it is to be focused on your phone and the road at the same time. It is not only harmful to yourself but to anyone in your vehicle and also to other people how are on the road as well. For example, facts and statistics that have proven this statement have been "In 2014, 3,179 people were killed, and 431,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers."
III. Purpose Statement – Texting while driving is a serious distraction and one that could cost you your life or the lives of others. IV. Main Points (TRANSITION:
The most common examples of distracted driving are using an electronic device, talking to the passengers, putting on make-up, etc. According to an article by National Conference of State Legislatures it states, "More than 220 million people in the United States subscribe to wireless services, and it is estimated that as many as 80 percent of those subscribers use their phones while driving." Florida, currently, has a secondary law banning texting while driving for all ages. While we have this law, it does not stop people drive while being distracted. You should not rely on your state 's law; you should go by the way you think driving is the safest, according to an article by WUFT News.
(Dreschel, 2014) b. Texting while driving not only threatens your life, but also everyone else on the road. c. (Statistic) Eleven percent of drivers aged 18 to 20 who were involved in an automobile accident and survived admitted, they were sending or receiving texts when they crashed. (Smith, 2014) d. (Fact) (statistic) Nearly half of US high school students aged ≥16 years old report texting while driving during the past 30 days. (O'Malley, 2013) e. (Fact)
The list could go on and on. So texting is NOT the only distraction. Being distracted while driving can hurt others and lead to not being on task. As parents and teachers, we need to be educating students about speeding, the use of drugs, alcohol, and distracted driving. It is better to educate than make illegal and enforce laws because the students may listen better if it’s educated to them.
Distractions include texting, eating or drinking while driving, talking to your passengers, reading (including maps), using a GPS, changing stations on your radio, and using your phone to call someone. The most dangerous of the these distractions is texting and driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), driving a vehicle while texting is six times more dangerous than driving while intoxicated (Leder). When you look down to text on your phone it only takes about three to five seconds for an accident to
Distracted driving is a serious issue in the United States that can have major negative effects and needs to be rectified. Everyday accidents on the road occur and distracted driving plays a major role in them. It is commonly agreed upon that it needs to be rectified, but the important question is, whether the repercussions for distracted driving should be equated to drunken driving. Based on data, statistics, and the effects of distracted driving, the repercussions for distracted driving and drunken driving should be equated. Equating the repercussions will be effective in reducing the number of road fatalities by creating a sense of precaution and seriousness for all drivers.