Although some people say believe that cell phones are good in case of an emergency, the implementation of cell phones is distracting drivers and leading to increases in crash percentages, elevates the percentage of teen deaths and influxes in insurance rates of teen drivers. Distracted driving is a growing problem in today's society. It causes countless deaths every year. This problem has progressed over the years due to the progress in mobile devices. The advance of cell phones has made distracted driving even more of a problem. Texting and driving is a very common problem because of the progression of cell phones. Many people think that five seconds is the minimal amount of time that drivers take away from the road when they are trying to …show more content…
Often times teens learn or feel that it is okay to do some of the things they do on the road because the grew up watching their parents doing it while they're were driving and they feel like it's normal to drive that way (Seiler). The sad fact is that so many people want to believe that texting and driving is okay. Unfortunately some of these people don't get a second chance to fix that bad habit and many times these young drivers die. Most experienced drivers can tell you that it is important to be not only an attentive driver but also a defensive driver. The reason being although you may be following the law and doing everything right when you're driving other people may not be. It take two or more people to be involved in a car accident and when you really think about it car accidents are not really accidents. The actual definition of accident is “an unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally”(www. merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accident). The problem is that it's not a mistake if you decide to pick up the phone while you are driving 70mph down the highway, because you chose to do that. It's not unintentional if you crash into another car because you were texting and driving, you knew the risk you were taking when you picked up the phone but you decide it was ok. Normal car accidents where the driver or drivers are not at fault are normally caused by car malfunctions, acts of nature, etc. The biggest problem that drivers have is controlling their abilities to stay on task, focused to the road and what is happening all around them. Most drivers Will simply say something like “I didn't see the other car” or “I wasn’t paying attention”. When things like that happen it's because they feel like not paying attention for a few seconds won't matter but it really does matter. A car crash can be caused in less than a
Distracted driving, the act of driving while engaged in other activities, has long been a dangerous epidemic on America’s roadways. While there’s a wide range of activities that distract American drivers, texting while driving has become increasingly prevalent, as the popularity of mobile devices has risen since the 1990s (Noder, 2009). In American culture, which has become ever more dependent on cellphones, many experience the desire to always be accessible – even while on the go (Noder, 2009). This desire, motivated by both social and business objectives, leads many to use their phones behind the wheel. Eighty-five percent of Americans, a number
Changing the radio station as well as dealing with children may be a distraction for the older age groups but texting while driving is one of the primary sources of accidents involving teens. Studies show that texting while driving takes your attention from the road for approximately five seconds at a time. Unfortunately, that is all the time needed to run a stop sign and collide into oncoming traffic. The problem that lies in most of these cases is that the person has been texting and driving for multiple months or years and believes they have “mastered” it, so to speak. They don’t believe this type of thing could happen to them. Alas, many people have that mindset, resulting in 1.6 million deaths and 330,000 injuries annually. They don’t find out that they were sadly mistaken until it is too
Distracted driving is equivalent to the use of cell phones, laptops, games in the car, the use of radio system including an intense conversation with a passenger. Certainly the habit of using cell phones associated texting and driving is the worst distraction and cause thousands of deaths each year around the United State. Most states in the United States have begun to create different types of laws against this kind, but so far these laws have not been effective. According to the Department of Transportation studies in only 4 states (CA, LA, MN and WA) it showed that the low-level laws implementation against texting and driving contributed to an increase in the statistics of accidents and deaths attributed to texting and driving (2014 p. 1). The Department of Transportation states that this increase in numbers is associated to those people that have chosen to avoid being seen went using their electronic devices looking away for much longer after the laws was imposed, this cause major incidents on the road. In these same studies conducted by the Department of Transportation indicate that the implementation of more stringent laws decreased the number of accidents and deaths caused by texting and driving.
Distracted driving is second on the list and is expected to rise in years to come (Wilson &Stimpson, 2010). In 2008, one in every six fatal crashes was a result of distracted driving. Studies showed that drivers who text and drive were 23 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash (Wilson &Stimpson, 2010). Approximately 660,000 drivers are manipulating some kind of electronic device or cell phone while driving on U.S. highways (Wilson &Stimpson, 2010). In 2012, 3328 fatalities and 421,000 injuries were a result of this hazardous behavior (Wilson &Stimpson,
The next generation of teen drivers is starting to hit the roads, but distracted driving is an extremely large problem for them. With an addiction to any technology that crosses their paths, young drivers are more inclined to utilize this technology, mainly cell phones. This addiction distracts them while driving because they feel the need to respond to a text message as soon as possible. This addiction is unhealthy and intensely dangerous to the driver and their
According to an article, “Texting and Driving Statistics”, 3,179 people died and 431,000 people were injured in 2014 due to distracted drivers involved in accidents. Distracted driving is not caused by cell phones alone, it could be caused by the radio, a navigation system, eating, conversing with others in the car, or reading. The same article states that, “because text messaging requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver, it is by far the most alarming distraction.” The percentage of drivers texting while behind the wheel increased by 0.5 percent from 2013 to 2014. It is a dangerous issue that is causing death and injury every year. The average time used to read a text message is five seconds, and according to the article, “When traveling at 55mph, that's enough time to cover the length of a football field blindfolded. “ That is ample time to cause an
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, eight people are killed each day in crashes involving distracted driving (Kelly, 1). This is an alarming stat that needs to be addressed immediately so this issue can be prevented allowing for better safety on the roads for drivers. In this day and age, technology has an exponentially greater impact on the daily lives of people in society as opposed to recent history, especially with millennials. Stats to the right show that 12% of teen crashes come from cell phone use distraction. From children to millennials to the older generations, phone use is almost depended on for everyday communication and staying abreast of news within their social circle and the globe.
A recent study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute estimates that texting and driving takes away from the road for 4.6 seconds, the same amount of time it takes for a car to travel across a football field at 55 miles per hour. Since there are both positive and negative factors in driving, we are starting to realize more that driving can be extremely dangerous. This here shows that there are multiple issues and causes as to why driving is becoming such a problem. Imagine if this was your family member being at stake for someone else’s distractions.(Hypothetical).
For many people being able to drive is like a dream come true especially for people in high school, but it could easily become a nightmare that is never woken up from. The use of technology has grown since the 1990 especially in the past few years, distracting us from things that are important. One of the biggest problems in the United States is texting and driving. Not only are drivers putting themselves in danger but they are also putting passengers in their car and other drivers on the road in danger. Drivers can be easily distracted, and even the smallest activity can shift the drivers attention off the road. Some of the few activities that contribute to being distracted while driving include using a cell phone, talking to a passenger, using the GPS, adjusting the radio and most importantly texting. Texting while driving uses visual, manual and cognitive attention and is one of the leading causes of accidents and deaths currently in the United States.
In fact, at any given time throughout the day, approximately 660,000 drivers are attempting to use their phones while behind the wheel of an automobile. Smartphones have made it easy for us to stay connected. But that can pose serious safety risks if someone decides to check his or her text messages, emails, phone calls, or any other mobile applications while driving. Cell phone distraction rates are alarmingly high. Even though teens recognize that talking or texting on a cell phone or using social media apps while driving is unsafe, they often engage in these behaviors while driving. In 2016, 10 percent of all drivers ages 15 to 19 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the
According to statistics, every day about 66,000 people try to use their phones while driving. “The National Safety Council reports that cell phone use while driving leads to 1.6 million crashes each year.”(Cell Phone Use While Driving Statistics) Out of this huge and growing number, 33,000 people are injured every year because of this problem that is not addressed enough (11 Facts About Texting and Driving). This growing problem could be easily fixed if drivers had self control and common sense of when to use their phones. Sadly, most drivers think that answering a text takes about five seconds which couldn’t possibly put them in danger. This is a common misconception. “Texting while driving creates a 400% increase in time spent with eyes off the road.”(The Dangers of Distracted Driving) According to statistics answering a text message takes about five seconds. Also, if your car is going at a speed of 55 miles per hour you can travel about the length of a football field
According to the National Safety Council, cell phone use while driving causes 1.6 million crashes annually. Fatalities due to distracted driving increased 28% since 2005 and kills 11 people each day! These statistics sadly imply that the amount of people who lose their life because of texting and driving is rising. This can either signify that individuals aren’t aware of the dangerous situation they are placing themselves in or they recognize the risk but choose to ignore it. Sending or receiving a text takes the driver’s eyes off the road for about 4.6 seconds, which at 55 mph is the driving length of an entire football field. One is required to constantly look down at the phone screen to read or send a text. This is essentially the same thing as driving blind. The reduced awareness on the street leads to an increased chance of an accident because the driver has less time to react. Furthermore, people who text and drive tend to advance at a slower pace. This can create inconsistency for other drivers, leading to a probable accident. To analyze this type of situation more, their eyes are off the road and concentrated on the text, producing a higher chance of hitting a pedestrian. Texting and driving CAN
Distracted driving is a modern issue that needs to be dealt with. Today, many students would not be able to bear a day without their beloved cell phones. They are constantly texting and using social media; driving is often no exception for answering their latest snapchat. This practice is certainly a problem due to the fact that it causes harm to people on the road by putting them in unnecessary danger. According to Harvey Simon, an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, people who text and drive are 23% more likely to get into an accident than non-distracted drivers. This is an alarming statistic due to the fact that I rarely drive anywhere without seeing at least one person on their phone while driving. Driving is an activity that occurs everyday. People need to drive in order to get where they need to be on time and this is not going to change anytime soon. By not giving all of one’s undivided attention to this task, people are being put into danger regardless of if they are texting and driving or not. In 2010 a study was done that concluded that about 15% of crashes involving fatalities in the United States were caused by a cell phone being used while someone was driving (“Distracted
You can often spot a driver who is using their cell phone. they drive like a drunk, swerving in between the lines speeding up or slowing down. overall becoming a very unpredictable hazard in your daily commute. saying that we need some new laws for this matter. I believe that the government should have more severe punishment. cell phone use is driving distracted kills and distracted driving is as bad as drunk driving; on the other hand, sometimes we need a phone.
Every day people put their lives in danger when they get behind the wheel, sober or not. Most people probably think that a majority of car accidents were caused from drunk driving, but there are also numerous other reasons. The tiniest of distractions can make a ginormous change in someone’s life. Texting, along with drinking, are among the most dangerous problems of driving. In 2015 alone, 3,477 people were killed, and 391,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers (“Distracted”). When looking at statistics, approximately 660,000 drivers are using their cell phones (“Distracted”). The potential to be in an accident caused by texting is tremendous. Not only that, but every day, 28 people in the United States die