Persuasive Essay On Distracted Driving

Distracted driving; most of us are guilty of it without even knowing it. Distracted driving is doing anything else unrelated to driving while behind the wheel. This could include: using a cell phone, changing the radio station, eating food, and even having a conversation. The most distracting of them all is using a cell phone because it requires the user to manually input information. The laws surrounding texting while driving are far too lenient when compared to laws on drunk driving, yet both can end in a car crash. People texting while driving should face steeper penalties than what is already in place because they are a danger to anyone around them. The small fines are not enough to deter people. While banning cell phones from being allowed in vehicles is not an effective approach to the problem, stricter laws should be put in place to make the roads a safer place. Texting while driving penalties should be treated with a similar severity that DUI charges are. The penalties for texting and driving need to be increased because it would make the roads safer, increase the government’s revenue, and help solve the problem of texting while driving.

Distracted driving is the leading cause of car accidents in America, followed by speeding, then drunk driving. A study performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTAS) found that 80% of car crashes were a direct result of distracted driving. There are three types of distractions for drivers: visual, cognitive, and manual. Cell phone usage whilst driving meets all three criteria for a distracted driver. When a person is using a phone they will take their eyes away from the road to look at the device (visual), they will think about the content of what they are looking at and take their mind off of the road (cognitive), and they will also take their hands off of the wheel to use the device (manual). There are many other reasons that can be attributed to distracted driving, like applying make-up or loud passengers in the car, but cell phone usage is becoming a rapidly growing concern, especially with younger drivers. The NHTAS identified that drivers under the age of 20 make up the highest proportion of distracted drivers that were involved in fatal crashes.

In this article “Distracted Driving”, many distractions are mentioned other than just cell phone usage, such as changing the radio station or driving with kids in the back seat. It is stated that the dangers from distracted driving are because of the decrease in brain function and inability to pay full attention to the road. These practices lead to wrecks and in many cases death.

Regulations should be the same for all drivers regardless of what city or state they drive in. Currently, not all states have the same rules for the use of cell phones while driving. These laws vary from city to city and state to state. Regulations on cell phone use are also dependent on where the offense takes place and novice. Some laws differentiate whether a phone is a

I personally have never been a victim of distracted driving; however, I have witnessed many of my peers drive while distracted and the experience can be a frightening one. I was in the passenger seat of my friend’s car. As we were driving home, I noticed a car directly in front of us begin to sway left and right, dangerously crossing from one lane to the next. My friend clearly took notice of the reckless driving as well because he slowed down to gain some distance between us and the inattentive driver. After turning at an intersection, the car crossed into oncoming traffic, consequently crashing into another vehicle. We later discovered that the person irresponsibly driving the car was a student at our high school and that they were texting while driving. Furthermore, no person was fatally harmed

According to Ashley Gaddis from Counterpoint, “From 1999 to 2008, nearly fifty-two thousand people were killed in car crashes caused by distracted drivers” (n.pag.). Distracted driving started when technology became mobile and handheld. Many people have died and gotten injured from people not paying attention to the road. This problem has been growing as technology advances. Distracted driving is a big problem and there needs to be stronger penalties and laws in place to deter people from distracted driving.

Distracted driving is one of the fastest growing problems in the United States.   It is starting to be considered as serious as drunk driving based on the dangerous outcomes.  According to the Department of Transportation (2012), “distracted driving was a cause of roughly 450,000 accident-related injuries and nearly 5,500 fatalities in 2009 alone” (para. 1). Drivers who allow themselves to become distracted while driving are not only endangering themselves, but other innocent bystanders.

Recently, we talked about some of the driving distractions plaguing drivers, including electronics and food and drinks. Unfortunately, distracted driving, which is anything that takes your eyes off of the road, your hands off of the wheel, or your mind off of driving, goes beyond just electronics and what you consume while driving. We would like to discuss two other types of distractions you may encounter as a driver and what you can do to safely deal with these driving distractions.

Drivers may still use hand-held devices on the road, limited to non-texting activity, while those under 18 years have a complete hands-free ban. Some cities in Texas, however, have stricter ordinances than the current state law. Austin, Corpus Christi, El Paso and San Antonio have total hands-free ordinances.

Driving”. Distracted driving is any activity that diverts your attention away from driving. This may include texting/talking on the phone, eating and drinking,

Illinois is one of 14 states that has a hand held cellphone bans, “Illinois is the 12th state to ban the use of hand-held devices while driving. Texting and driving was banned in 2010.“ ("WQAD.com. WQAD News 8, 11 Feb.), though we can use hands free devices which according to legislation is described as “ a driver using an electronic communication device in hands-free or voice operated mode, which may include the use of a headset;” ("Illinois Compiled Statutes. Illinois General Assembly. Web. 17 Apr.2016”).

This includes the House Bill 1013 which went into effect back in October. It bans any driver of a motor vehicle to engage in text messaging. A few other states that ban the use of a cell phone while driving are Illinois, California, New York, and Indiana has a ban on any one under the age of 18.

Drivers assume that hand free devices are safe to use. The main advantage to avoid using cell phone during driving is ensuring safety of driver, vehicle, and other people driving on the road. By making conversation, it is pertinent to highlight that hands-free phones have also similar negative impacts during driving; both distracts attention, although hands-free cell phones do not require manual

Advancing technology in wireless communications is presenting a growing concern for distracted driving due to using cell phones and other electronic devices while driving. Although distracted driving accidents and fatalities have risen in the last decade, placing a ban on the use of a cell phone or other electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle as some states have will not resolve the issue. In fact a ban on cell phones and driving may very well increase the accident and fatality rate because drivers are now more involved with concealing their illegal behaviors. More citizen participation and drivers safety management should be more carefully considered in a transpiring situation such as this. More Americans should be

Supporting material: Many states and localities already have laws in place that ban or restrict cell phone use in cars. Existing laws can be found at Cellphone and texting laws (May 2012).