Informational Essay

Texting and driving…it can wait.

All of us need to be aware of texting and driving and the dangers of it and take steps to minimize the risk to ourselves and others. Is it really that important to stay connected during every hour of the day? According to Ian Mulgrew, a journalist/author from Canada, many accidents are blamed on distracted driving and most of the distractions are caused by cell phone usage (Mulgrew). Drivers today have such busy lives and never have time to get the things they need to do complete in one day’s time. This leaves them to get things done while on the road. Checking text messages is a top priority for people, and since many have Smartphone’s, they will do it on the road as well. There already is a law that is established in Washington State to try and prevent distracted driving from happening, and the current restriction are, 1.Drivers are prohibited from holding cell phones and other wireless communications devices to their ears, 2.
Teenage drivers are barred from using all cell phones and other wireless communications devices, 3.Drivers are prohibited from text messaging. No matter what age the driver is, under no circumstance should anyone be texting while driving. Texting or using a cell phone while driving is very hazardous to oneself and the people in Washington State. While driving, adults and teenagers cannot resist the urge to pick up their cell phone and send a text or respond to one. When the driver hears their phone vibrate or ring, nothing can stop them from checking the notification on their phone. As soon as the driver’s eyes meet their cellular device, their focus on the road is drawn away. According to the texting and driving statistics website “It makes someone 23 times more likely to crash, and is basically the same as driving blind for 5 seconds, causes 330,000 injuries per year and the National security council said The NSC or national security council said “Texting while driving causes 1.6 million accidents per year in the U.S” that’s 25% of all accidents that occur each year. The lives of innocent people are being taken every day due to a simple distraction. Different states have particular views on the laws put into effect about texting while driving. The state of Utah has a law established stating that if a driver is texting while driving and winds up crashing, they will spend fifteen years in jail (Mulgrew). Most people don’t seem to realize how careless they can be while driving a car. The Washington State: cell phone laws and legislation states that “1,300 crashes were linked to electronic distracted driving from 2006 to 2010. Between 2004 and 2008, distracted driving in Washington State contributed to 758 deaths. The commission point out that collision data collected by crash investigators significantly underreports driver distraction.” So, there not even telling the people of Washington State the real amount of injuries, accidents and deaths that occur showing how this problem already exists and is growing steadily and the people of Washington State don’t even know. Not only is texting while behind the wheel bad enough itself, many people are comparing the danger level to driving while drunk. Driving while intoxicated at the same time is illegal, just as texting while driving is. Larry Copeland states that after a study was conducted at The University of Utah, it showed that driving with a blood-alcohol content of 0.08% is equal to texting and driving. 0.08% is the legal amount of alcohol one can have in their system that is allowed in Washington State (Copeland). If people were more aware of how closely related the distraction of texting while driving and drunk driving are similar, it would help to inform all drivers on safety behind the wheel. All of these hazards on the road are making other drivers very nervous. According to a survey taken by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, “52% of drivers on the road today feel at risk when driving compared to five years ago. One year before, only 40% were said to feel unsafe, having a 17% increase from year to year” (Copeland). Not only are people who text while driving harming themselves, yet they are putting every other driver on the road in the same dangerous position without realizing it. Even though the majority of people are in favor of the law that bans texting while driving in Washington State, some may have opposing views. Why would anyone be against laws that are made only to increase the safety of drivers. Stephanie Hanes states” that laws enforced to ban texting while driving have failed to decrease the number of car crashes” (Hanes). One problem with the law is that there is not enough enforcement and it does not come as much of a threat to drivers. So more drivers feel safe and comfortable texting while driving because they know the chances of them getting ticketed for it is very low .“Texting bans haven’t reduced crashes at all,” says Adrian Lund (Copeland). Just as Lund stated, some people feel the bans are useless and shouldn’t be put into effect in the first place. After a law was placed in California banning the use of text messaging while driving, the amount of accidents due to texting while driving doubled, found by a study conducted by the Automobile Club of Southern California (Hanes). Showing how a law for banning texting while driving should be put into effect and enforced more. There are some people who truly feel the laws against texting behind the wheel are not effective. When a person engages in a text message, it’s not possible to look in both directions at once; therefore all of their focus goes straight to the screen of the cell phone. It’s hard for all drivers, especially teenagers, to put down the cell phone and put their hands on the wheel, which increases the number of accidents happening each year in the U.S due to texting and driving. Some ways that could be helpful that people can do to prevent themselves from texting and driving would be, first don’t feel tempted, turn off the cell phone when getting into the car. Second, if needed to text someone pull of the road safely and stop. This way one can minimize the risk to themselves and others. Last, if still thinking that texting will be a temptation, put the phone somewhere it cannot be reached, such as the trunk, backseat, etc. Take control of the cell phone; don 't let it control the mind. Texting while driving puts many drivers’ lives in danger daily. People feel that staying connected to the outside world is more important than focusing on the road ahead, although it isn’t. It can harm others on the roads that are doing nothing other than trying to make it to their destination safely. If people would open their eyes to the dangers of texting while driving, less car accidents would take place every year and the roads would be much safer. Distracted drivers need to know the position they put others in as well as themselves. While behind the wheel, drivers should never direct their attention to their cell phone and should always keep their eyes on the road.

Citations:

1. (Copeland), Larry. “‘Awareness gap’ on road texting.” USA Today Sept. 2010: 03A Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Contex. Web. Mar. 6. 2013.

2. (Copeland), Larry. “Texting bans may add risk to roads.” USA Today 28 Sept. 2010 01A. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Contex.Web. Mar. 6. 2013.

3. (Hanes), Stephanie. “Bans on texting while driving don’t reduce crashes, study says.” Christian Science Moniter 28 Sept. 2010. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Contex. Web. Mar. 6. 2013.

4. (Mulgrew), Ian. “Cell Phone Use While Driving Needs Stiff Penalties.” Cell Phones and Driving. Ed. Stefan Kiesbye. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2011. At Issue. Rpt. from “Ticket for Using a Cellphone While Driving Doesn’t Go Far Enough.” Vancouver Sun 9 Nov. 2009. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 6 Mar. 2013.

5. (Schutle), Bret. “States Should Try to Curb Teen Texting and Driving.” Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Gale, Cengage Learning. Rpt. from “Outlawing Text Messaging WHile Driving: Legislators in Several States Respond to Safety Concerns.” U.S. News & World Report (11 Feb. 2008). Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 6 Mar. 2013.
6. "Washington State: Cell Phone Laws, Legislation." Washington State Cell Phones & Texting Rules. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2013.
7. "Texting and Driving Statistics." Texting and Driving Statistics. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2013.
8. "NSC Estimates 1.6 Million Crashes Caused by Cell Phone Use and Texting." NSC Estimates 1.6 Million Crashes Caused by Cell Phone Use and Texting. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2013.

Citations: 1. (Copeland), Larry. “‘Awareness gap’ on road texting.” USA Today Sept. 2010: 03A Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Contex. Web. Mar. 6. 2013. 2. (Copeland), Larry. “Texting bans may add risk to roads.” USA Today 28 Sept. 2010 01A. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Contex.Web. Mar. 6. 2013. 3. (Hanes), Stephanie. “Bans on texting while driving don’t reduce crashes, study says.” Christian Science Moniter 28 Sept. 2010. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Contex. Web. Mar. 6. 2013. 4. (Mulgrew), Ian. “Cell Phone Use While Driving Needs Stiff Penalties.” Cell Phones and Driving. Ed. Stefan Kiesbye. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2011. At Issue. Rpt. from “Ticket for Using a Cellphone While Driving Doesn’t Go Far Enough.” Vancouver Sun 9 Nov. 2009. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 6 Mar. 2013. 5. (Schutle), Bret. “States Should Try to Curb Teen Texting and Driving.” Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Gale, Cengage Learning. Rpt. from “Outlawing Text Messaging WHile Driving: Legislators in Several States Respond to Safety Concerns.” U.S. News & World Report (11 Feb. 2008). Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 6 Mar. 2013. 6. "Washington State: Cell Phone Laws, Legislation." Washington State Cell Phones & Texting Rules. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2013. 7. "Texting and Driving Statistics." Texting and Driving Statistics. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2013. 8. "NSC Estimates 1.6 Million Crashes Caused by Cell Phone Use and Texting." NSC Estimates 1.6 Million Crashes Caused by Cell Phone Use and Texting. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2013.