Introduction One of the biggest rites of passages in the United States at the age of 16 is obtaining a driver’s license. The freedom to roam the open road and explore the world around you in most cases is a joyous occasion. At 16, a young inexperienced driver is constantly conveyed that driving is a privilege and one must use caution or that privilege will be taken away. However, over the past few years one of the growing problems in United States not only affects young drivers but drivers of all ages. Distracted driving is a growing problem in the United States that affects not only people of all ages but race, and gender as well. In 2011, 3,331 people were killed in crashes due to distracted driving (National Highway Traffic Safety …show more content…
Literature Review The Crashworthiness Data System is a random sample of collected data by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of reported crashes (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). The collection of data identifies how an accident took place, the age of the person involved, variables of attentiveness, ethnicity, and gender. The data summarizes distracted driving into three main types visual, manual, and cognitive (Distracted Driving, 2013). Visual distraction is when a driver takes his or her eyes off the road (Distracted Driving, 2013). Manual distraction is defined as taking your hands off the wheel, while cognitive is taking your mind off the road (Distracted Driving, 2013). As previously, stated, distracted driving is becoming an increased problem in the United States year after year. Risk factors One of the reasons why distracted driving is so important is the ability to identify risk factors that are associated with it. According to the CDC high school students who participate in distractions like texting while driving will be twice as likely to get in the car with a drunk driver and five times more likely themselves to drive drunk (Distracted Driving, 2013). The belief is that if the student participates in one unsafe practice that it opens the door to other unsafe habits (Distracted Driving, 2013) Many authors have investigated the risk
Although distracted driving is a problem for all drivers, it specifically is a major problem for teenagers. Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for American teens. When it comes to distracted driving, young people are the most likely to text and talk behind the wheel ("Distracted Driving Facts"). In Idaho between the years of 2010 and 2014, the age group 15-19 experienced the most crashes, with the age group 20-24 coming second. Teenagers also contributed to 10% of fatal car crashes and a little over 15% of serious injury car crashes ("Distracted Crash
Copeland’s article about teen driving claims that teens know the consequences of distracted driving. However, they continue to use their phones and participate in such behaviors. Copeland states that most
Distracted driving in America is not a trivial issue in today's society. On average, eight people are killed and one thousand one hundred sixty one people are injured due to accidents involving distracted drivers, particularly due to texting. Distracted driving is a huge issue in our society. The risks are great and lead to unfathomable results. Distracted driving has also taken such a big toll on our Nation, that laws have been put in place in hopes of preventing distracted driving.
1). Texting and using a cell phone are the two most common distractions while driving (“Distracted” para. 1). It Can Wait campaign has started to stop drivers from using handheld devices (“Distracted” para. 3). Distractions affect one’s driving performance (“Distracted” para. 5). Drivers are distracted around half the time they drive (“Distracted” para. 5).15% to 25% of crashes on all levels are caused by distraction (“Distracted” para. 5). Texting increases the driving risk, even more than regular cell phone use (“Distracted” para. 5). When cops fill out crash reports, the states should keep track of them (“Distracted” para. 6). There are many distraction while driving that may cause the driver to take focus off the road (“Distracted” para. 8). Some distraction that everyone does is : changing the radio or a CD, talking to passenger, and observing the event outside the vehicle (Distracted para. 8). There are effects on telematics on driving behaviors (“Distracted” para. 9). Some say that the electronic device companies need to inform the public about the real use of these devices (“Distracted” para.
I am particularly interested in researching this topic because it is an everyday occurrence that I see individuals carelessly texting and driving not knowing that they are putting themselves, along with everyone else on the road in danger. People simply just don’t understand the true depths of this action. Through developing a data analysis on motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers, I hope to build awareness to this issue and potentially save lives.
Distracted Driving: An Epidemic The majority of teenagers in the United States yearn to get their license; it is a right of passage to the open road, a statement of adulthood and freedom. Yet with this freedom comes the cliche trend of responsibility - a responsibility that manifests driving as a privilege, not a right. Yet despite such excitement that surrounds driving, there still exists a multitude of illegalities and neglectfulness when it comes to the practice. One such neglect includes distracted driving - a dangerous trend in society that has long been around.
WARNING!! There is currently a dangerous epidemic outbreak of accidents caused by distracted driving all across the United States. Many believe that this outbreak only affects teenagers. Although, according to The Texas Department of Transportation in 2015 there has been over 105,000 of these accidents deals with teenagers and adults as the driver due to distracted driving. Safe driving is described as a complex procedure that requires 100 percent of focus and concentration. While, distractive driving is defined as any time the driver takes their eyes off the road for even a split second due to any distraction. These distractions can range from eating to using any electronic device and even talking to others inside and outside the car. There are countless of cases after cases about drivers being distracted and getting into fatal car
Distracted driving is a major problem on the roads today. Not only is distracted driving dangerous for the driver himself but also for other people who happen to be on the same roads as them. The Annual AAA Foundation traffic safety culture index reports that 81.1% of drivers believe distraction is a serious problem and is a behavior that makes them feel unsafe
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.
These studies are not limited to only teens, but also include adults as well. Distracted driving is not an age specific problem. This problem can range from teens to senior citizens. Adults are just as likely as teens to have texted while driving and are significantly more likely to have talked on the phone while driving. The re¬sults in this report are based on data from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International between April 29 and May 30, 2010, among a sample of 2,252 adults, age eighteen and older. “Nearly half (47%) of all texting adults say they have sent or read a text message while driving” (Madden). Many cellphone owners take advantage of the technology by performing several kinds of tasks in many types of places, including in the car and while walking. Two places where attention should be paid to the fullest. Madden also explains, “That compares to one in three (34%) texting teens ages 16-17 who said they had texted while driving in a September 2009 survey.” This is rather alarming when a person considers how cars have changed throughout the years in number, speed, size, and the age of the operators. The driving age varies from state to state, but the average is fifteen and six months for driver training to begin. This seems quite young to be given this responsibly without the need for in-depth training covering
First, schooling teens in distracted driving won't be enough to change their habits. Drs. Coben says, “Young drivers are at greatest risk, both because they use cell phones more than older drivers, and because they are inexperienced behind the wheel." This is why teens are being piled with statistics and information all through intermediate, middle, and high school, but does this really make a difference? Many of our young people are becoming rebellious to the repeated efforts to inform them of apparent-or rather ensuing-danger. It makes you wonder whether or not
Persuasive Essay Distracted Driving Distracted driving is a dangerous epidemic on America’s roadways. In 2015, there were 3,477, people killed and an estimated additional 391,000 injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers. I believe it should be against the law in all states to use cell phones while driving. Texting while driving is one of many things that people do that distracts driving.
In 2013, 3,154 people were killed from distracted driving in the United States while 10,076 people were killed from drunk driving. Similar numbers occurred in 2014 with 3,179 people killed by distracted drivers while 9,967 were killed by drunk drivers. Since drunk driving leads to three times as many deaths than distracted driving, talks of making their penalties equal should be dismissed. This, however, does not mean that distracted driving penalties should not change due to the high amount of injuries caused. In 2013, distracted drivers caused 424,000 injuries in the United States while drunk drivers caused 290,000 injuries.
First, what is distracted driving? Distracted driving is any activity that takes the drivers attention away from driving. These distractions threaten everyone in the vehicle and the innocent bystander’s safety. Some of the distractions include: texting, eating and drinking, reading, watching a video, adjusting the radio, putting on makeup. These distractions take the drivers attention away from what they should be doing. In 2013, 3,154 people were killed in an accident involving a distracted driver. Around 424,000 people were
The Gale Encyclopedia of Public health article about distracted drivers using cell phones while on the roads showed the tragedy in the freeways that we use every day. Cell phone usage when driving reduces the drivers’ attention up to 50%, and they are at risk of an accident at 4 times higher compared to the drivers who do not use the phone while driving (The Gale Encyclopedia of Public health). Young drivers are the majority of the distracted drivers, since most of them use technology more than the older generations, this resulted the young drivers to be the most victims of accidents. It is still unknown the exact number of deaths, or injuries involved distracted drivers, however a study done by