Use By Drivers

Running head: CELL PHONE USE BY DRIVERS 1

Cell Phone Use by Drivers
Brianna Starks

CELL PHONE USE BY DRIVERS 2
Cell Phone Use by Drivers
Using a cell phone while driving is a dangerous practice that has been the cause of many injuries and deaths. Driving while texting is as hazardous as driving drunk, yet many people do it every day. The government has enacted laws in most states against the use of hand held devices when a driver is operating a vehicle. Many non-governmental organizations have campaigned against this serious issue as well. Distracted driving
Cell phones provide a tremendous distraction while driving. Smartphones, which are enabled with maps, games, and notifications, are even more enticing than those that only make calls and send texts. Many people feel an urgency to respond to a text or phone call. They would rather put themselves and others at risk than miss the message the person on the other side is transmitting. Although distractions, such as crying children in the backseat, flashy billboards, and the beautiful scenery can cause accidents, “text messaging requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver, it is by far the most alarming distraction” (Department of Transportation, n.d., “What”). Driving requires the operator of the vehicle to have his eyes on the road at all times, because traffic conditions can change in a split second. If the driver is distracted, a fatal accident could occur without warning. Attention paid to texting means attention diverted from other activities such as watching for pedestrians, looking out for traffic signs, and operating a motor vehicle safely (Gardner, 2010). Distracted driving is especially dangerous if the distraction involves a cell