Bella's Documents

Brooklyn Rodriguez
Mrs. Dunlap
English 301
26 January 2014
A change in Driving Over the years cellphones and driving have both seen many changes. Both of these things have had major changes most people look at all the changes as great, but if the two are put together the outcome is not so great. Studies show that car accidents involving cellphones are one of the leading causes of death of women under the age of thirty-five (Moore). More and more people are using their phones while driving; not knowing they are putting not only their own lives in danger but also the lives of other drivers. There are those few people who do not use their phones while behind the wheel, but they have probably witnessed someone else doing it. There have been many laws passed in different state making it illegal to use phones while behind the wheel. Texting while driving is a growing problem for drivers everywhere it is time for states and people to have regulations and laws, because there are not enough states with laws on texting while driving. Everyone has witnessed someone on their phone while behind the wheel. According to Halsey In 2009 alone about 5,500 people were killed, half a million injured due to distracted driving. Every year the number of deaths and people injured caused by distracted driving is increasing dramatically. This is why sstates needs to put a stop to distracted driving before it is too late to do anything about it. States that already have laws against cellphone use while driving needs to make the laws stricter because people are still using their phones and ignoring the laws. Every country needs these laws because there are only fifty countries who actually have these laws and that is not enough. Most people know it is dangerous to use phones while driving the drivers knows their putting their lives and other lives at risk, but they still do it. Over the years people have tried to come up with solutions to texting and driving. People have tried to find ways where they are still able to be on their phones without making it dangerous. That is why car manufactures developed the built in speaker which allows people to talk to others without having to take their hands off the wheel. But it is proven that “cell phones and hand free phones are equally dangerous because it is the conversation that is the distracting part” (Cellphone users cause Traffic Delays). People should just stop trying to find ways to use their phones while behind the wheel because all they are doing is coming up with more ideas to put their lives at risk. Every state just needs to come up with some laws that prohibit any kind of use with phones or any electronic device while behind the wheel because each year the problem is just getting worse. The laws that states already have are just not harsh enough that is why states are not seeing any results. States need to make the laws severe to make the drivers scared and will force them to stop using their devices while behind the wheel. Engdahl’s suggests “Most people don’t know that texting while driving can lead to jail time” (68). States need to increase the fines because people are not going to want to pay any fines. If every state was to increase the fines the states would began to see better outcomes because, people do not want to have to pay fines. If states were not to see the outcome they were expecting to see from the new laws, something else they could do to stop texting while driving would be to contact the cell phone services and have a special app made that is instantly installed on the phone when it is activated. The app would be able to know when people are in the car and sense when the car is in motion the app would lock the phone until the car stopped moving. The app would be a good solution to trying and putting a stop to distracted driving because distracted driving is a growing issue in the U.S. and needs to be stopped. Every year an estimated 5,474 people are killed in the U.S. and 448,000 are injured due to distracted driving (texting while driving). If distracted driving is put to a stop less people would be injured and killed. If cell phone providers were able to make an app that would be able to control cell phones and were able to force it to lock and unlock it would really change everything about texting and driving. The app may seem impossible, because it seems like it would be difficult to make an app to control a whole phone and be able to since when a car is in motion and when it is not in motion. If people are really willing to help put a stop to texting and driving the time put towards the app would really pay off. The app would even pay off for those drivers who do not use their phones while driving. By putting those drivers at less of a risk. Moore states that “When texting while driving 91% of people decrease in steering ability” (Moore). If people were able to stop texting and driving those who do not text and drive would not have to worry about people steering into the wrong lane and possibly hitting them. Putting an end to texting while driving would benefit just about everyone. Some people think that it is okay to text and drive, and that there is nothing wrong with looking at their phone while behind the wheel. There are a lot of people who think that we have enough rules to keep us safe on the road, and that we have no problems involving distracted driving (Halsey). Maybe there really is not a problem with texting and driving. Maybe some people are just over reacting and making it seem like a bigger deal then it really is. The states that do not have laws against texting while driving may have reasons on why they think their states are fine without these laws. Halsey argues, “There appears to have been a small increase in claims in the states enacting bans, suggesting that texting drivers have responded to the law by hiding their phones in their laps.” States may just not be making laws because they know the drivers will find ways around the laws, and that nothing will stop them from being on their phone. There are a lot of people who would like to ban texting while driving, but these people may just not be willing to put the effort that is needed to put a stop to it. It is true an app to control your phone may just be too much work just to put a stop to one problem, when there may be bigger problems that need to be stopped. Even if people were willing to try and make an app all their hard work may not pay off the app could just mess up and cause all kinds of problems. Most drivers would like to continue using their phones behind the wheel as Halsey states, “Drivers are saying they should be able to continue to use their phones behind the wheel”. People should just leave things the way they are and just try to stop fixing things that do not need to be fixed. Harsher punishments may not be needed. Many people think that the fines are already enough. If people did change the punishments to be harsher most people wouldn’t be scared of the new punishments, they would just keep texting while driving, and if they were to get caught most people would just ignore the fines and keep going on with their lives. It would just be best to keep the punishments and fines the way they are and not try to change anything. Texting while driving is a growing issue affecting many lives. People do not realize that “it only takes about 7 seconds to send a text while driving buts that’s all the time needed to crash”(Nelson). This is why laws in every state banning texting while driving are needed, so texting while driving can finally be put to an end. Cell phone providers really need to consider making an app to lock their phones while behind the wheel. The app would really help drivers from getting distracted and putting their lives and others lives at risk. It has been long enough were people are getting away with texting behind the wheel. This could finally be the time to set state laws and make change on drivers everywhere.

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