As an automobile operator, we witness distracted drivers on a daily basis. Many of these people become oblivious to their surroundings and can cause catastrophic occurrences. Distracted drivers cause injuries and in some cases, death. Over 330,000 people are injured each year by a distracted driver. Distractions inside and outside of the car, cell phone usage, and getting lost in thoughts are the three leading causes of automobile accidents. Distractions inside of the car cause a large number of casualties. Something as simple as changing the radio station, eating a sandwich, or even a discussion with a peer could be a situation of life or death. In most cases, accidents occur by an inability to pay attention to what is in front of
…show more content…
For years, auto safety advocates, car insurance companies and other critics have blamed hand-held cellphones for causing significant distractions and leading to accidents and fatalities (Erie,2013, p. 10). As a result, more than 10 states plus the District of Columbia have banned hand-held phones. Washington D.C. and a majority of states prohibit drivers from using a hand-held cellphone behind the wheel. 82% of teens 16-17 own a cell phone. Studies show that over 95% of teen drivers acknowledge the dangers of texting while driving but 35% still admit to doing it. Smartphones have enabled us to become more connected with the world, but they also pose a threat for potential distractions while driving. Every year, one out of every four crashes are due to a driver being distracted by a cell phone. Texting while driving increases the time spent with your eyes off of the road by 400%. When responding to a text message, you take your eyes off of the road for about 5 seconds. While going 55 miles per hour, your eyes can be taken off of the road for a length equivalent to a football field while responding to a simple text. Text messaging makes a collision 23 times more likely to happen. Many people believe that they can safely text and drive but there is no safe way to distract yourself while driving. Along with texting, one in five people surf the internet while they are driving. They justify themselves by claiming that simply reading a text is far less detrimental than actually creating and sending one. In 2011, over 1.3 million crashes were caused by a driver using their cell phone. Cell phones are ranked as second most common contributor to causing
For years, auto safety advocates, car insurance companies and other critics have blamed hand-held cellphones for causing significant distractions and leading to accidents and fatalities (Erie,2013, p. 10). As a result, more than 10 states plus the District of Columbia have banned hand-held phones. Washington D.C. and a majority of states prohibit drivers from using a hand-held cellphone behind the wheel. 82% of teens 16-17 own a cell phone. Studies show that over 95% of teen drivers acknowledge the dangers of texting while driving but 35% still admit to doing it. Smartphones have enabled us to become more connected with the world, but they also pose a threat for potential distractions while driving. Every year, one out of every four crashes are due to a driver being distracted by a cell phone. Texting while driving increases the time spent with your eyes off of the road by 400%. When responding to a text message, you take your eyes off of the road for about 5 seconds. While going 55 miles per hour, your eyes can be taken off of the road for a length equivalent to a football field while responding to a simple text. Text messaging makes a collision 23 times more likely to happen. Many people believe that they can safely text and drive but there is no safe way to distract yourself while driving. Along with texting, one in five people surf the internet while they are driving. They justify themselves by claiming that simply reading a text is far less detrimental than actually creating and sending one. In 2011, over 1.3 million crashes were caused by a driver using their cell phone. Cell phones are ranked as second most common contributor to causing