Pick one of the Current Issues topics that are at the beginning of each chapter in the book and discuss, in your own words, both sides to the issue. In addition, answer all questions presented at the end of the issue. Then give your opinion on the issue and explain your point of view. This project should be 3 pages long (single spaced) and is due on 12/17. Driving While Distracted 1. Is it fair that in some states, a ban on texting while driving only applies to drivers under a certain age? 2. Should the use of all handheld devices, including just talking on the phone, be banned completely while driving? 3. In some states a driver can only be cited for a handheld phone violation if the driver commits another moving violation while on the phone. Is that a reasonable solution? Weighing the Issues: Do You Drive While Distracted? Even when drivers are totally focused on their driving, accidents can happen. So what can happen if drivers are not totally focused? According to the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA), almost 6,000 deaths, over 500,000 …show more content…
As of January 2012, 9 states plus the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands will have banned all drivers from using handheld cell phones while driving and 34 states plus the District of Columbia and Guam will have banned drivers from text messaging. Laws for novice drivers are even more stringent, with 30 states plus the District of Columbia banning novice drivers from using cell phones and 41 states plus the District of Columbia banning novice drivers from texting while driving. It is likely more states will adopt some form of legislation targeting drivers’ cell phone use and/or texting in the future. Americans, when polled, are usually strongly in favor of laws curbing using cell phones while
Gregg Easterbrook, a fellow of the Brookings Institution and author of The Progress Paradox, argues in his article “Road Kill,” that people in the United States are not paying attention to a major killer: our roads. In his essay, Easterbrook explains the lack of attention to the threat of road accidents, even comparing it to 9/11, which has become a serious threat to Americans on the road, and even worldwide. Many Americans dismiss the problem, even though it is huge even if it is not perceived as a huge threat like terrorism. Some causes of the rise in accident casualties proposed by Easterbrook are distracted driving and the rapid increase of horsepower. Easterbrook proposes multiple solutions to the problem, such as increased legislation on distracted driving and reducing horsepower in cars (A1-4).
but so are older adults. States ae creating laws against handheld devices to help prevent accidents. Several states include California, Connecticut and Oregon have already passed laws to ban all texting
The Texas lawmakers heatedly debated whether to ban texting while driving, which resulted in 102-40 for the ban. (Barnett) People seem to use the excuse of their unalienable rights to keep on losing themselves while driving instead of paying attention to whatever is ahead of them. That is also the reason why texting while driving is increasing the crash rates even outside of Texas, as you can see stated in "90+ Texas Cities are Hands-Free / Ban Texting and Driving", "In 2013 alone, 3,154 people in the U.S. were killed in
Damage Done By Distracted Drivers Did you know “ 1 out of every 4 car accident in the United States every day is caused by texting and driving resulting in nearly 330,33 injuries occurring each year” (schumaker,1)? Texting and driving puts many at risk besides the driver being distracted by a cellular device. Texting is the act of composing, sending, reading a text message, email, or making similar use of the web on a mobile phone while operating a motorized vehicle. Texting and driving is a growing problem that is only going to increase if we don 't do anything about it.
On the other hand, some other states are viewed as being lax regarding such regulations on cell phone usage. Often cited cases include that of places such as Arizona which is viewed as being among the most relaxed state in the country concerning usage of cell phones while driving. The only cell phone activities that are prohibited under state law is used by bus
I. Why banning the use of cell phones while driving should be mandatory nationwide. A. To convince the public why cell phones should be banned while driving. B. To show the dangers and results of distracted driving. C. Distracted driving is any activity that takes away a person’s attention from driving.
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
The article written by Peter Roff titled “Don’t Ban Driving with Cell Phones,” explores the idea of banning cell phone usage while driving by the Federal Government. This particular article is on the proposed law from the U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in 2012. Today, there is some form of cell phone ban while driving in all 50 states. For example, texting while driving will warrant a ticket across the entire United States. Some states have not banned any other form of cell phone usage while driving but most of the more populated states have implemented further restrictions.
Further, Texas legislature have been trying to file a bill for smartphones being banned while driving. It is our responsibility as drivers to make sure that we are paying attention to the road at all times. Cell phones are a distraction and as a society it shouldn 't be allowed being used while driving because it causes unavoidable accidents. Representative Tom Craddick said “distracted driving is an epidemic in Texas and we must pass a law to address this life-threatening habit.” Texas is one of the only four states that doesn’t have a statewide law on cell phones and driving.
What I found to be the most interesting from the reading that most of all car crashes are caused by distracted driving. Most distracted driving accidents are caused by teenagers or people who barley started driving. Distracted driving is caused when either the person who is operating the vehicle is paying attention to something that is going on inside the car or they are taking their attention to an object outside of the vehicle and not paying attention to the road. Over 5,000 distracted driving cases happen each year in the state of Utah. Nearly 3,000 of those cases result in injured persons and 28 result in death.
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:
I think the New Law, texting while driving, is a good idea, because more people are to get in to car accidents. A lot of people today are dying and/or wounded because of people who aren’t considerate of other people while driving. People text when they drive, or they will call someone, and they will be looking blankly outside. I feel if there is a law against texting, then more and more people are less likely to do it. So, if a person is texting while driving, then they are pulled over and given a ticket.
(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)
I come from a small town with, to put it bluntly, a bunch of hillbillies who seem to think they’re completely invincible. This is to say that reckless driving and car wrecks are something I’m well acquainted with. In Ohio, minors cannot use cell phones while driving at all, while adults are only banned from texting. I disagree with this law. Distracted driving affects all age groups, and no matter how experienced you are, looking at your phone while driving puts everyone in danger.
For example, according to pew research article forty-one states ban texting and driving. Twelve of those states won't let you even hold any electronic device in your hand while driving. According to an article in the Des Moines Register,and an article from dmv ¨Starting July first , texting while driving will become a primary offense as part of Senate File two-hundred-two, giving law enforcement officers the authority to pull over drivers they suspect of using their cellphones to send messages, snap photos or browse the internet. But until then Iowa considers it a second offense, which means that a police officer can only give you a ticket if they pull you over for texting and driving.