...Hang Up: It’s Not Just Your Life Brad Gardner Michael Hunter ENG215 November 4, 2014 Hang up: It's not just your life Although it appears to be a common sense notion, the differences in laws and regulations regarding the use of mobile devices while driving are not the same from state to state. No one person is a better-distracted driver than the next and because of this, all states should have standardized policies regarding the use of mobile devices while driving. Every day we can make a change; make better choices, to make a difference in our lives and the lives of others. We can make a simple choice to hang up our cell phone before getting in our car and driving. We can choose not to accidently run over a young child walking across the street on their way to school due to the distraction of a cell phone. It sounds simple enough to do; yet, every second, someone decides to take that child's life. They decide that it is more important to answer their phone or reply to a text while driving over the wellbeing of others. Distracted driving and its repercussions have been a growing concern since the first-day drivers began using mobile devices. The first cellular phones became available for consumer use in the mid-80s. Widespread use was not marked for almost another decade. In the early 90s, less than 4.5 million people used cell phones. Over the last 15 or so years the population of cell phone users has spiked to over 230 million, according to statistics from the Insurance Information...
Words: 1279 - Pages: 6
...Texting While Driving The number one leading cause of teenage driving deaths and crashes is texting while driving. Texting while driving is teenagers’ number one driving distraction (Cell Phone). Texting while driving has not really been a big concern until recently. Law enforcement have realized that the percentage of texting and driving accident have risen over the past years. Texting while driving has been getting ignored but now it’s time to bring it to the light to save some lives. Texting while driving is the #1 wrong thing to do while driving than anything else (Cell Phone). Teenagers do not realize how dangerous texting and driving is; it can cause injuries, distractions, and even deaths. Texting while driving is a growing trend, and a national epidemic, quickly becoming one of the country’s top killers (Distracted Driving Laws). Every year there are one million six hundred thousand, accidents per year and of those accidents there are three hundred thirsty thousand, injuries per year (Distracted Driving Laws). Eleven teen deaths every day due to texting while driving (Distracted Driving Laws). Nearly twenty-five percent of all car accidents are due texting while driving (Distracted Driving Laws). Texting while driving is about six times more likely to cause an accident than driving intoxicated (Distracted Driving Laws). Texting while driving is the same as driving after four beers (Distracted Driving Laws). Texting while driving takes away your attention for five seconds...
Words: 943 - Pages: 4
...Evolution of Distracted Driving The problem of distracted driving is more common than operators like to admit and is a serious factor in automobile accidents and fatalities. With the advent of cellular telephones, distracted driving is coming more and more under scrutiny, but distracted driving dates back almost to the beginning of the automobile. In 1930, car radios were in question. Massachusetts and St. Louis proposed laws to ban radios while driving. According to historian Michael Lamm, “Opponents of car radios argued that they distracted drivers and caused accidents, that tuning them took a driver’s attention away from the road, and that music could lull a driver to sleep” (qtd. in DeMain). In a 1934 poll of New York Auto club members, 56 percent considered the car radio a “dangerous distraction.” However, the Radio Manufacturers Association recognized the potential benefits of the radio and defended keeping them for the purposes of informing drivers of bad road conditions, severe weather and helping sleepy drivers stay awake (qtd. in DeMain). Automobiles have changed greatly since their inception, including the interior accessories and instrumentation. Automobile manufacturers have not always taken into account the diminished vision of older drivers when designing labels for the interior accessories. This can lead to older drivers spending more time struggling to read the poorly labeled instruments instead of concentrating on the road. Many people use the car interior...
Words: 1589 - Pages: 7
...There are many accidents while driving. Most of these accidents are caused by distractions, one of the most dangerous distractions are texting while driving. Many people get injured or even killed because the driver has to answer one text. States try to fine people or imprison them just to make sure those drivers don’t do it again, but they haven’t made it illegal. In order to keep the driver, passenger or pedestrian safe, it is better to make it illegal. Texting while driving is a huge reason why there so many accidents on the road. “Texting messaging creates a crash risk of 23 times worse than driving while not being distracted” (The Dangers of Texting while Driving). This risk is big, but that's just half of it. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration filed that in 2012 most distractions while driving was 18 percent of fatal crashes, wounding 421,000 people and killing 3,328 others (The Dangers of Texting while Driving). Those distractions were because of cell phone use. It also says a simple text like “I love you” can be the cause of a fatal accident (46 Important Texting while Driving Fatalities Statics). These statements support why texting while driving is so dangerous....
Words: 614 - Pages: 3
...Distracted driving: Stay focused when on the road 1. Teddi Dineley Johnson It’s 8 a.m., and you jump in your car to drive to work. You have every intention of driving safely, but within minutes of merging onto the highway you’ve already checked your makeup in the mirror, fiddled with your car’s radio, programmed your GPS for a meeting location, made two calls on your cellphone and sent a text message to your sister. You might not realize it, but you’re a distracted driver. Each time you take your focus off the road, even if just for a split second, you’re putting your life and the lives of others in danger. An emerging and deadly epidemic on the nation’s roads, distracted driving-related crashes caused at least 5,500 deaths and nearly 450,000 injuries in 2009, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. However, since many local law enforcement agencies don’t routinely document distraction factors in crash reports, federal safety officials believe the numbers are actually much higher. “Driving a car is a very complex task,” says Barbara Harsha, executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association, which estimates that distractions are associated with 15 percent to 25 percent of crashes at all levels. “It requires your complete attention. All it takes is a glance away for more than two seconds and you can get into serious trouble.” Spend your time at the wheel focused on the road, not on distractions like phones, food or friends. Graphics courtesy iStockphoto...
Words: 1334 - Pages: 6
...Distracted is the main element in around 6 out of 10 teen crashes(Green, 2015). What really is “distracted driving”? Distracted driving is the practice of driving a motor vehicle while engaged in other activities;usually one that involves the use of a smartphone. or other devices(Google definition). Which, according from the AAA, says accounts for 25% to 50% of all accidents. People could be distracted when texting a friend, or even reading a message. Driving carelessly can hurt the driver, other drivers and the family and friends of the people that could be possibly hurt or killed. Think about what you do before you do it. It could save lives. Everyone nowadays has a smartphone of some kind. People used these devices to communicate with one another via texting, or on social media like Facebook. However, looking down at your phone to text a friend while driving is considered distracted driving. From a AT&T’s survey about distracted driving about 33% of people said they have emailed someone while driving(Richtel, 2015). Also data gathered from the survey said 27.1% of...
Words: 717 - Pages: 3
...Criminal Law August 12, 2013 Texting and Driving: It Can Wait Leslee’s life changed forever on March 4th. Leslee Henson and her husband David were involved in a terrible pedestrian-motor accident. They were not driving a car; they were simply going for a walk on a Monday morning in their neighborhood when tragedy struck. The motorist that was guilty of texting, rear ended another vehicle that struck the pedestrians. David shielded his wife, Leslee and took the death for her. In other words, he pushed her out of the way and he died while she survived and has to endure more than 5,000 stitches and staples on her head and neck. Bones in Leslee’s neck and back were broken. She had bleeding in her brain. Her shoulder was injured. The woman that caused the accident was 50 years old, late for work and was texting with her head down. In addition to all these factors, she did not have insurance which leaves Leslee with the medical bills. The car that she rear ended was being driven by a man named Fred, who witnessed David pushing his wife out the way and taking the blow for her. 1 So many individuals’ lives will never be the same because that lady chose to send a text. It has not been revealed what the message entailed but if it was that pertinent, than as a mature person she should have pulled over and taken precautionary measures. David was an amazing father, husband, uncle, and grandfather to 10 darling grand kids. Leslee did go home, two and a half weeks after the accident...
Words: 4027 - Pages: 17
...Injury Prevention: Motor Vehicle Injuries and Distracted Driving Among Teen Drivers Heather Stockman Waynesburg University Advanced Health Promotions Judith Adams August, 20, 2013 Injury Prevention: Motor Vehicle Injuries and Distracted Driving Among Teen Drivers Injuries are extremely widespread across society today and unintentional injuries remain among the top 15 killers for people of any age. The majority of people just accept these incidents as accidents, acts of fate, or a part of life although most of the events that result in injury, disability, or death are not only predictable but preventable. Beyond their immediate health consequences, injuries have a major impact on the well-being of society by contributing to premature death, disability, increased medical costs, and lost productivity. In addition, the effects of injury affect not only the injured person but also family members, friends, coworkers, and communities (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2013). The Injury and Violence Prevention objectives for 2020 include a wide range of issues that can improve the health of the nation if appropriately addressed. One such objective focuses on motor vehicle crashes that are due to distracted driving. This paper will focus on that initiative. INTRODUCTION Distraction is any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving. There are three main types of distraction. The first is when the driver takes his eyes...
Words: 2973 - Pages: 12
...Distracted Driving Driving is a big responsibility on the road ways, “Each year, more than 100,000 crashes result in injury and death involve texting drivers”, (Overton, et al). Distracted driving, such as texting while behind the wheel, is a recurring issue within the United States. Distractions are anything that requires drivers to take their eyes off the road or hands off the wheel. Not everyone drives responsibly, and accidents can happen no matter how experienced the drivers are behind the wheel. Abiding by the rules and regulations are all based upon the driver and also based on the passengers to warn the driver to not drive distracted. Although people argue that laws currently in place are sufficient, distracted driving causes death and injuries, so stricter laws and new technology in cars that monitor device usage are necessary in order to reduce the number of accidents caused by distracted drivers....
Words: 1277 - Pages: 6
...Penny Harris September 22, 2014 DRE-098 Distracted while driving Do you drive distracted? Do you care more about that phone call or text? Or what about that conversation or laughter in the backseat? A lot of people don't realize how selfish they are to put there life at risk, and more importantly the other people in the car with them or innocent bystanders as well as people in the other vehicle. In 2009, The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported the following, “almost 450,000 people were injured and 5,500 died in motor vehicle crashes in which distracted driving was a factor.” There are many things that can distract you while driving, let us examine why we should avoid them and a few of the main distractions while driving. The main causes of distracted driving our talking on the phone, texting while driving, as well as internal and external distractions. Talking on the phone or texting while driving I'll admit can be a great way to pass by time and get things done while driving, but is it safe? According to Virginia Tech Transportation Institutes (VTTI), “laboratory and naturalistic studies showed that talking on a cell phone raises the risk of collision by more than 30%.” Alternatively texting can be just as dangerous if not more dangerous because you take your eyes off the road to look down to text as well as thinking about the conversation. Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) has stated the following on the subject, “For example, studies...
Words: 1209 - Pages: 5
...phone at 10:06:29. Thirty-eight seconds later, someone called 911 to report the accident that killed Bailey and her friends” (“Texting May”) What if she had not been texting? Could these five girls still be alive today? It is impossible to say that the driver was the person sending and receiving texts messages, let alone that if she had not been texting it would have saved the girl’s lives; however, the fact that texting could have...
Words: 1560 - Pages: 7
...stopping one simple act could save countless lives. That simple act would be to stop being distracted by our cell phones when driving. Are we still willing to listen or do we discount or tune out the speaker and continue on about our business? The fact is that all states should have standardized laws banning cell phone use while driving because talking, texting, and reading texts distract drivers and lead to accidents and death. A brief history of the cell phone shows that “between 1998 and 2001, more than 100 million cell phones were sold. By the end of the 90's, more than 70 million users existed. At the end of 2000, there were over 100 million subscribers, so the 2000’s are the decade that cell phones became common” (Strayer and Cooper, 2009). It is also the decade that lives started to be lost due to cell phone use while driving. Today almost everyone has a cell phone. It is hard to imagine a time when we did not have cell phones available to us. Most people can barely remember having to use pay phones to make calls. Cell phones are helpful and convenient. The problem comes when people are so attached to them that they cannot function without it. The problem comes when people are driving killing machines and cannot concentrate on driving due to using their cell phone. [pic] (Miller, 2012) People are distracted by their cell phones everyday while driving. “Drivers who use hand-held devices are 4 times more likely...
Words: 2553 - Pages: 11
...Distracted Driving Distracted driving is the main cause of car crashes in the United States. “Each year, over 330,000 accidents caused by texting while driving lead to severe injuries. This means that over 78% of all distracted drivers are distracted because they have texted while driving” (Hopkins 1). Distracted driving is an issue that is occurring with all populations that are on the roadways.This issue is continually on the rise due to technology advancements. Many people think distracted driving is not a serious offense,but distracted driving could take someone’s life and if nothing is done this will only increase as the years go on. Distracted driving is a major concern for all people on the roads today and solutions that could help the issue are having a fine for anyone who is pulled over for distracted driving, reducing the number of colors in roadway advertisements and make laws gives a police officer to pull someone over if they think they are texting and driving and can give them a ticket. The introduction of cell phones was in the mid 2000s. By 2007, one in six fatal car crashes were from a...
Words: 1313 - Pages: 6
...Student ID: AC150526 Course No. SP180.1.2 – Principles of Public Speaking Lesson No. 6 – Persuasive Speech Outline Dec 28th, 2015 TITLE: WHY BANNING THE USE OF CELL PHONES WHILE DRIVING SHOULD BE MANDATORY NATIONWIDE I. A. General Purpose To convince my audience that cell phone usage while driving should be banned nationwide. B. Specific Purpose To inform the audience of the significant danger of using a cell phone while driving, and convey the importance of “getting the word out” to enact both individual and societal change, nationwide. C. Central idea The use of a cell phone or other mobile device while operating an automobile always results in a distracted driver, which in turn has been seen to cause serious accidents, including many fatalities. These tragedies are entirely preventable, as virtually no phone call or text is so urgent that the driver doesn’t have time to pull over – or have another passenger operate the mobile device. II. Introduction 72% of drivers with cell phones report that they use them to talk or to text while driving. They are aware of the many dangerous situations and also know that it is illegal, but in most cases, discount it. A. Key point #1: Society’s reliance on cell phones. B. Key point #2: What is a distracted driver? C. Key point #3: What does it take to enforce the laws, consistently, from state-to-state? III. Body of the Presentation A. Key Point #1: Cell phones are as common and familiar to us as our wallets...
Words: 1301 - Pages: 6
...English 106 November 24, 2013 Mr. William Lehman Solutions for Distracted Driving Driving is a very important thing to know how to do; it not only gets you from one place to another but also helps in different endeavors, such as grocery shopping, or in case of emergencies. This makes sense when you look at the number of driver’s licenses issued in the year of 2003. The state of California issued 22,657,288 driver’s licenses, ranking the state number one in issuing the most licenses in the year (StateMaster, 2004). Texas, coming in at number two, issued a total number of 13,498,071 licenses that same year (StateMaster, 2004). Keeping these numbers in mind, one would say that driving is one of the most important things in a person’s life. Achieving a driver’s license is a big deal that is worth celebrating in one’s eyes, especially if said license is achieved at a young age of 16-years-old. Even though driving can be a blessing, it is also a massive responsibility. If drivers do not take it seriously then someone may end up hurt, if not dead. The major way people abuse the ability to drive is by participating in distracting behaviors. There are various ways that a driver, young and old, may become distracted and therefore putting not only their lives but the lives of everyone around them in danger. Texting and driving is considered to be the one most thing that drivers do that cause them to become distracted, but this is in fact not the only problem that drivers have. Talking...
Words: 1315 - Pages: 6
