Distracted Driving Essay

According to Inkteen.com “In 2009, 5,474 lives were taken and 448,000 people got injured from car accidents from being distracted while driving, says the government.” Being able to drive may be a dream comes true, but it could easily turns into a nightmare that is never woken up from. The use of technology has grown in constant for many years, distracting people from things that are important. Texting and driving is one of the biggest problems in USA. However, not only are drivers putting themselves in danger, they’re putting passengers in their car and other drivers on the road in danger, too.

What is Distracted Driving? Distracted driving is anything that affects reaction delay time, removes focus from the road and causes accidents. The Center for Disease Control lists three types of distractions which can be anything form visual, manual and cognitive. Commonly texting is something that removes visual focus from the road.

Imagine driving the entire length of a football field at a speed of 55 miles per hour with your eyes closed. That is the equivalent of sending or reading a text that takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. While it may seem very minor to take your focus off of the road for only a matter of seconds, the consequences of distracted driving can result in devastating injuries or possibly even death. Distracted driving can range anywhere from texting, eating, putting on makeup, or even daydreaming. When a person is distracted while driving, it can not only harm themself, it also puts the other people in the car and other vehicles and pedestrians around them in danger.

What is distracted driving? Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person's attention away from the primary task of driving. All distractions endanger the driver, passengers, and bystander safety. I believe that it is extremely important to emphasize the dangers of distracted driving among all drivers, but most especially teenagers—in this age of new technology. I do think that many drivers are aware of the dangers of driving distracted, but it is also possible that they simply decide not to follow the rules. Did you know that 37,000+ people die in automobile crashes in the U.S every year? It is completely astounding. The problem is not that we don’t teach drivers at all, but may it be because we don’t teach them enough?

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 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.

Many drivers face the challenge of focusing on the road for the entire drive. Whether it may be checking their phone or finishing breakfast or just talking with the passengers, all of these are still roadblocks to a safe drive. “Distracted Driving” says, “There are three

Defining Distracted Driving Anyone handling an 18-wheeler that is text messaging is twenty-three times more likely to get in an accident. In the simple act of dialing a cellphone, a truck driver is six times more likely to cause an accident. Distracted driving is not just limited to texting and talking on a cellphone.

Though laws have helped prevent cell phone use while operating a vehicle, cell phones still have only greatened the number of distracted driving accidents. Susan Henneberg is an author who focuses on writing about common issues in society. After hearing of a fatal distracted driving accident, she wrote of the accident, “The impact [of the crash] spun their car sideways into Shaw’s lane, and the trailing pickup truck plowed into the side of the Saturn, killing both men instantly”(Henneberg). Both of these drivers were physically hurt all because of texting and driving.

Every day in the U.S., approximately one out of ten people are killed by distracting drivers, in fact, roughly one-thousand five hundred are injured in some way in crashes by these irresponsible distracted drivers. As a result of the increasing use of technology, the distracted driver is also multiplying. Furthermore, these drivers are putting themselves in danger, they 're putting passengers in their car as well as other drivers on the road in danger. Using a smartphone while driving uses a significant amount of multitasking, however, only 2% of people are adequate enough to successfully multitask. Drivers have a slower response or reaction time because of impaired decision-making and driving performance.

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

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. Distracted driving should be equated because in the end it results

(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)

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. My friend who used to drink and drive is a good case in point.

In many things I 've researched it says “At 55 mph, the average text takes your eyes off the road long enough to cover a football field.” So much can happen in that amount of time. Other distractions while driving are cell phones, other passengers in the car, internal and external things going on, The Radio/CD/DVD and most importantly