Texting, as of right now, is one of the most used ways of communication. But when texting is mixed with driving, it is not the safest combination. Texting and driving should be banned in all fifty states for all ages because texting is a privilege, not a right, it is a distraction, it is dangerous, and innocent lives have been tremendously affected. Although cell phone usage has become extremely evolved within this decade, it still has brought many flaws throughout our nation. One would think with the total number of deaths and numerous accidents that the entire nation would eventually come to a conclusion about this issue. But as of right now, twelve states prohibit all drivers from using hand-held cell phones while driving. …show more content…
By any means, being patient and texting someone later cannot lead to danger or death of others. Start realizing that texting in general, is not a priority or right for anyone to do, it is simply a privilege. Texting and driving should be banned in all fifty states because texting is a distraction that keeps drivers away from the road. According to the book Brain Rules, while multitasking, research shows your error rate goes up 50 percent and it takes you twice as long to do things. (Cooper) Texting someone is nearly the same as talking on the phone, therefore, it’s an ongoing conversation. But driving is an ongoing action, excluding stop signs and stoplights as well. As a driver the main focus is the road. In order to send a text, the cell phone has to be the main focus. For example, if a driver is at a stop sign, receives a text, and decides to look down at the phone. The driver’s eyes, hands, and focus completely move toward the phone and not the road anymore, which is the main focus. With this situation, there are a number of things that can go wrong. Someone can switch lanes really quickly, a baby can walk out the street, a car could suddenly stop, etc. So any drivers, who plan on “multitasking” while driving, think twice before making that decision. A lot of risks are taken by texting and driving, but the most important risk a driver takes while texting is either life or death. When it comes to texting and
Furthermore, ‘texting in cars and trucks causes over 3,000 deaths and 330,000 injuries per year as stated by a Harvard Center for risk study’ (Hanson n.p.). Just imagine all the lives that could be saved from deaths or injuries if people stop texting while driving because it is a major distraction for them. There belief is that they can multitask, but the sad reality is that the brain cannot do that. The brain has to focus in a particular task at a time. In order to do things right or correctly. Pennings a highway patrol helped demonstrate teens that texting while driving is a dangerous action. He made several so called “ Professional Texters” pass several obstacles while answering text messages and the results were not pleasing at all, cones were flying. The questions asked were not hard, yet they still manage to make the driver lose focus from driving. This is why implementing a rigorous law would come in handy. People will reconsider the thought of many things while being in their vehicles such as texting,eating and drinking, watching videos, putting makeup or grooming, etc. The states have not yet implemented a good law they only prohibit it during school zones or if a police officer sees you, but that is not enough.
The first reason texting while driving should be banned is it is a problem that is out of control. An example of this is in article four which states “82% of Americans age
People love their phones and people love to do things on them such as texting. There is no problem with this unless texting while driving is being practiced.
Texting and driving should be illegal in all fifty states because of the catastrophic affects it has had on our country. It has become just as dangerous, if not more dangerous, than drunk driving. It kills thousands of people and injures hundreds of thousands annually. Whether people think they can shoot a text safely or they just aren’t aware of the dangers, it needs to come to a complete stop. To do this, laws need to be in place for any and all kinds of cellphone usage; adults, teenagers, elders, and bus drivers should be banned from picking up their phone while operating a vehicle. Consequences should also be in place for those who do not abide by them. No text is worth your life or anyone else’s.
The second reason of why texting while driving should be made illegal is that it is as dangerous, or even more dangerous than driving under the influence of alcohol. In a research study it has been proven that even with a hands-free device, talking on a phone can impair driving skills more than driving under the influence of alcohol does (Saletan 3) because when under the influence the driver does not lose sight from the road and constantly knows what is going on around him, even though his judgment has been impaired and his reaction time has been slowed down. In contrast, texting while driving makes you lose sight from the road which makes the drivers reaction time much longer than someone driving under the influence and can make him end up in a very bad accident.
It is sad to think that people cannot wait to text their friends back and they have to do it during driving on the roads.
According to texting and driving statistics, every year, around 330,000 people die every year from texting and driving. This is around half of all the people who pick up their phones in the first place. Being on your phone draws your attention from the road, to your phone. Doisomething.org states, “When you text and drive you are 23 times more likely to get into a crash.” All it takes is a simple act of not watching the road. Being unaware while driving can put you, and other's lives at risk or injury or even death. This can affect your future, others around you, your friends, and your family. Texting and driving is a very big deal. Don't Text Drive states “5 seconds is the minimal amount of time a driver takes their eyes off the road. If you are traveling at 55 miles an hour, this would equal the length of a football field of not
One great reason they should ban texting while driving is because of what happens on the roads. For example, I found in article one that “more than nine people are killed everyday because of people that are distracted because of the cell phones.That being said this means over 1,153 people are injured every year while others are being distracted.”
Many people are coming together to bring awareness to this ongoing problem. Supporters of bans on texting while driving assert that texting motorists pose a significant danger not only to themselves but to countless innocent drivers, passengers and pedestrians throughout the United States. Texting while driving impairs one's ability to drive as much as being drunk does and no one would ever argue that drunk-driving laws are unnecessary. Supporters also point to polling data that show overwhelming support for making texting while driving illegal. There has been reports of the government wanting to pass laws to ban using your cell phone while
Even Though texting is important to some people. Save it for later. While not driving. Don't kill someone or yourself. If people text while driving that's exactly what will happen. Be responsible for the actions that are taken. It may be the cool thing to do, but apparently those kids are trying to kill themselfs. That's not cool. Be the bigger person and walk away from texting and driving.
Texting while driving, which is the equivalent as driving blind for five seconds, has been an issue for about as long as the text message was invented. This activity has caused many accidents across the nation every year and resulted with quite a few fatalities. To this day, 46 states have decided to implement their own law banning texting while driving. This law can only be formed under the State’s authority rather than by our National government. This being a very controversial topic,
“Studies show that a person who is driving while texting is 23 more times likely to end up in an accident than a driver who refrains from such action” (www.phonearena.com). Drivers need to start considering others and their own passengers, if any. Sending or even reading a text message while driving puts others and passengers at risk for being injured or even worse being in an accident. “One out of four car accidents in the US are caused by texting and driving” (www.edgarsnyder.com). Texting and driving is banned in 47 states according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Some states only have texting and driving banned for inexperienced drivers or teen drivers. Texting while driving should be illegal in all states and not just for teen drivers. It should be illegal because of the percentage of crashes and fatalities caused by
The people on the other side of the coin think that texting while driving should not be banned because eating and driving or listening to radio can impair the driver as much as texting and driving do to a driver (Friedeman N. Pag). Also, many argue a law against texting would be difficult to enforce because it is hard to check if people are hiding their texts or not, just like some people do in class! Another counterpoint would be that people think it is
Driving while driving has become a major problem across the country. We are losing too many mothers, fathers, son, and daughters due to drivers being distracted with their cells texting. Nineteen states including the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.) have banned it. The Transportation
Texting while driving takes away the one thing that absolutely everyone counts on while behind the wheel, vision. No matter where the phone is placed, whether it is on the dash board or on the steering wheel, one’s eyes are not where they need to be. People’s eyes are supposed to be on the road at all times. Texting takes that away and it doesn’t matter how quick someone thinks they are, there is always a possibility. Just for that split second of reading a message that is so important, a crash could happen. Eyes are the most important thing needed when driving and when not on the road a lot of harm can be caused.