Cell Phones While Driving

Mkaul Filley
Nancy Nelson
Eng. 101
9 January 2013

Cell Phones While Driving

In the world we live in today, everything is about convenience and time. Unfortunately, many have taken modern day technology and combined that with extreme carelessness. When this occurs, the outcome is devastating. Throughout the years, cell phones have become the “in thing.” Many are using this technology to call, text, Facebook, and Tweet. With new distractions, comes less time to focus on reality. In a recent study, 34% of teens have stated that they have texted while driving a vehicle, and 52% of them have stated they have talked while driving a vehicle. In my opinion, that is complete selfishness. In that moment of receiving a text or call, they are only thinking about themselves, not the people they could hit, injure or kill. I would like to see every state in the United States have laws against using cell phones while driving; therefore, there would be less distractions, death, and guilt for more then half of the citizens in this country who use a cell phone while driving. One of the top rules in driving is to block out every distraction and focus on the road. However, through technology and mental brainwashing, society has found it acceptable to use cell phones behind the wheel. When a cell phone is in your hand while you are driving, this creates a physical deficiency and a major distraction to you and your brain. Even the most accomplished, proclaimed multitasking individuals, do not know the exact timing when someone will cross the road or turn the corner. The unknown is what causes these distracted drivers to crash. When one takes his hands off the wheel or eyes off the road, even for a split second, this person is risking more then just a missed call or text. A test was set up with truck drivers at Virginia Tech. Trucks were fitted with cameras that recorded the drivers face in the six seconds before the accident occurred. Shocking evidence was found after reviewing these tapes, 4.6 out of the 6 seconds, these drivers weren’t looking at the road. Distractions could easily be adverted if we only understood the everlasting affects they would have on an individual. Death. One of the most powerful words one can speak. The meaning and force of that one word can make any grown man cry. Just like the man who lost his best friend to an accident involving a 16-year-old girl who was texting and driving. Bill Lofton was a “45-year-old fun-loving, community-minded, father and friend,” that was, until he was thrown off his motorcycle and killed at the scene. No one should have to go through the pain of losing a best friend, father or husband; especially when it could have been easily prevented. In 2008, cell phone usage while driving a vehicle, killed 6,000 and injured 500,000. Wouldn’t you save a life if you could? Don’t use your phone while behind the wheel. It is that simple, yet in the hustle and bustle of our busy lives, we find it necessary to use our phones. If this is the case, make different arrangements. Tell people when you enter a car; explain to them your situation and have them reach you later. If this is not convenient, pull over and use your phone. Keep your options open and remember, “Is this text or call worth my life or the life of someone else?” Honestly, wouldn’t it be much easier if every state made it illegal so you would not even have to think about all the little things you must do to prevent an accident? It would be much easier to not even bring your phones in the car. (Sometimes it’s needed) Keep it away. “Guilt is perhaps the most painful companion of death.” In June 2012, a seventeen-year-old boy was driving while texting when he hit a car that carried three children, the male driver, and his girlfriend. Aaron Deveau is now serving 4 1/2 years in federal prison for killing Daniel Bowley, the driver and father of the three children. Aaron will always live with (the guilt?) what he did and whom he killed. The feelings of remorse will never leave and the heavy burden of taking a life will carry with him for the rest of his. Even though he apologized to Bowley’s girlfriend and three children, the apology will always remain as just words. Aaron Deveau’s last statement was, "I made a mistake, if I could take it back, and I would take it back.” Guilt is a real thing and many do not know of the lasting affects it holds, until you’re the one that has killed a father and loved one. We can prevent this dread and horrible feeling. Make this killing machine illegal. When reviewing laws in individual states there are 10, including Washington D.C., that prohibit all drivers from using handheld cell phones. In 32 states including Washington D.C., they prohibit novice drivers from cell phone use. In 39 states plus Washington D.C., they prohibit all drivers from text messaging. Living in a state that does not hold any of these three laws; along with Montana, South Dakota, Missouri and Oklahoma; I find it very necessary to reach out even more to have these laws passed in all fifty states. If passing these laws could save a life, why haven’t we already banned the usage of phones and driving? Do we need more accidents and death to prove that this is a real issue and it must stop?

Once an individual has made the impulsive decision to use his or her cell phone while behind the wheel of a moving vehicle, this person has made a poor choice that could result in pain, death and guilt. Car accidents occur every day, resulting in death and injury. For many years, the leading cause was due to alcohol, now as we become more advanced in our technology, cell phones are becoming a very real problem in the driving world. How is it that something which can bring us much joy and convenience, really bring us the most pain and suffering one can endure? Using a phone while driving should be illegal in all fifty states because of what it can lead to, distractions, death, and guilt. Nothing is worth the loss of your own life, a loved one, or even a stranger. We can prevent this simple thing and have enormous outcomes in the end. If the United States cracks down on the laws behind the cell phone, lives will be saved and the world would be a much stress-free place. “I believe that I am not responsible for the meaningfulness or meaninglessness of life, but that I am responsible for what I do with the life I 've got” -Hermann Hesse. Do something great with your life; don’t throw it away by taking someone else’s.

Work Cited
1. CaulField, Philip. “18-year-old gets 2 years for texting-while-driving death.” Daily News 7 June 2012. 9 Jan. 2013

2. Farrell, Michael. “At summit, calls for more states to ban texting while driving.” The Christian Science Monitor 30 Sep. 2009. 9 Jan. 2013.

3. Freeman, Sholnn. “Texting and Driving Don’t Mix.” The Washington Post 29 July 2009. 9 Jan. 2013

4. Thomas-Tisdale, Alice. “Texting While Driving Must Stop.” The New York Times 8 Sep. 2010. 9 Jan. 2013

Cited: 1. CaulField, Philip. “18-year-old gets 2 years for texting-while-driving death.” Daily News 7 June 2012. 9 Jan. 2013 2. Farrell, Michael. “At summit, calls for more states to ban texting while driving.” The Christian Science Monitor 30 Sep. 2009. 9 Jan. 2013. 3. Freeman, Sholnn. “Texting and Driving Don’t Mix.” The Washington Post 29 July 2009. 9 Jan. 2013 4. Thomas-Tisdale, Alice. “Texting While Driving Must Stop.” The New York Times 8 Sep. 2010. 9 Jan. 2013