Drunk And Distracted Drivers Research Paper
Debbie Lim
English 105
Ms Cree
Writing Assignment #2
March 20, 2011
Drunk and Distracted Drivers are Top Causes of Accidents
Drunk and distracted drivers cause more accidents on America’s roads and highways than any other reason. In August 2009 Diane Schuler, made national news when she caused an accident that killed eight people on the Taconic State Parkway in New York. She had a blood alcohol level of 0.19 percent and was also under the Influence of marijuana at the time she drove her minivan carrying her two children and three of her nieces the wrong way onto the off ramp of the interstate. The accident not only killed her, but also killed her daughter, nieces and the three people in the SUV she hit as she drove into oncoming …show more content…
traffic. The only survivor in the horrific crash was her young son.
As tragic as it was, the Schuler story is not unique. In 2008, there were 5.8 million auto accidents in the United States, resulting in 2.35 million injuries and more than 37,000 deaths. Nearly one third of car accident deaths were caused by a drunk driver.
California’s numbers reflect the national average as well. In 2008, there were 3,434 fatalities caused by car accidents in the state. Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County, and San Diego County were the three counties with the highest accident rates. In fact, according to statistics released by an insurance company, drivers in Los Angeles have a 46.6 percent increased chance of being involved in an auto accident than the national average, while those in San Diego have a 13 percent increased chance.
Over 1,000 of the deaths on California roads, or about 30 percent, were attributed to drunk drivers. While some like to boast on the fact that the state’s total number of alcohol-related deaths decreased by 103 from 2007 to 2008, the statistical decrease is of little or no value to those who have lost a loved one to a drunk driver.
For example, consider the death of the nine year old who was the passenger with a 23 year old drunk driver, who hit one car before colliding with others on I-5. Or the Carlsbad Highway Patrolman who died after being hit by the group of college kids coming back from a night of partying in Tijuana. For the families and friends of these people, even one death caused by a drunk driver is too many.
Drunk drivers are not the only danger to those on America’s roadways. Drivers distracted by cell phones, GPS navigation systems, radios and passengers in their cars also pose risks. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NTSA) estimates that 80 percent of all accidents are caused by distracted drivers.
The most commonly blamed driver distractions are cell phones and PDAs used while driving.
A published study estimated that cell phone use while driving causes 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries each year.
Many believe that the actual number of injuries and deaths associated with cell phone use and texting are much higher than reported. The New York Times ran a story that detailed how the federal government had suppressed important information regarding the dangers of talking on cell phones while operating motor vehicles. Additionally, many states do not list cell phones as an official cause of car accidents, making it difficult to accurately determine the true number of accidents caused by them.
A 21 year old Utah resident was recently charged with negligent homicide for distracted driving. He was charged with two class-A misdemeanors after he caused a fatal accident that killed two men. The pick up truck he was driving crossed over the center line and struck the Saturn carrying the two, throwing it into an oncoming Ford F-250 killing them instantly. He was texting and driving. According to cell phone records his last text was sent at the same moment his truck crossed over the center
line.
The issue of cell phone use while behind the wheel has received so much attention that the US Department of Transportation has actually held summits to discuss the dangers of cell phone use and texting and measures for reducing the number of accidents that they cause. The federal government has also considered pulling federal funding from states that do not take action against cell phone use and texting while driving.
Several states, including California, have already passed laws that prevent drivers from talking on their cell phones unless they use a hands free device. However, a recent study revealed that these devices do little to nothing to prevent driver distraction. The act of talking on a phone is as much a distraction as dialing or receiving calls.
States have also begun passing laws that ban texting while driving. Currently, about half of the states ban either all or some drivers from texting. California passed a ban in 2009 that prohibits all drivers from texting while driving and made the violation a primary offense, meaning that the police have the power to pull over any driver who is seen texting or using a cell phone with out a hands free device. However, the ability of the police officers to enforce these types of bans is questionable, especially in heavily populated areas like Southern California.
It’s alarming to think that as the number of drivers on our roads and highways increase, so will all of the risks. Ironically, the greatest risks to all drivers are drivers themselves.
English 105
Ms Cree
Writing Assignment #2
March 20, 2011
Drunk and Distracted Drivers are Top Causes of Accidents
Drunk and distracted drivers cause more accidents on America’s roads and highways than any other reason. In August 2009 Diane Schuler, made national news when she caused an accident that killed eight people on the Taconic State Parkway in New York. She had a blood alcohol level of 0.19 percent and was also under the Influence of marijuana at the time she drove her minivan carrying her two children and three of her nieces the wrong way onto the off ramp of the interstate. The accident not only killed her, but also killed her daughter, nieces and the three people in the SUV she hit as she drove into oncoming …show more content…
traffic. The only survivor in the horrific crash was her young son.
As tragic as it was, the Schuler story is not unique. In 2008, there were 5.8 million auto accidents in the United States, resulting in 2.35 million injuries and more than 37,000 deaths. Nearly one third of car accident deaths were caused by a drunk driver.
California’s numbers reflect the national average as well. In 2008, there were 3,434 fatalities caused by car accidents in the state. Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County, and San Diego County were the three counties with the highest accident rates. In fact, according to statistics released by an insurance company, drivers in Los Angeles have a 46.6 percent increased chance of being involved in an auto accident than the national average, while those in San Diego have a 13 percent increased chance.
Over 1,000 of the deaths on California roads, or about 30 percent, were attributed to drunk drivers. While some like to boast on the fact that the state’s total number of alcohol-related deaths decreased by 103 from 2007 to 2008, the statistical decrease is of little or no value to those who have lost a loved one to a drunk driver.
For example, consider the death of the nine year old who was the passenger with a 23 year old drunk driver, who hit one car before colliding with others on I-5. Or the Carlsbad Highway Patrolman who died after being hit by the group of college kids coming back from a night of partying in Tijuana. For the families and friends of these people, even one death caused by a drunk driver is too many.
Drunk drivers are not the only danger to those on America’s roadways. Drivers distracted by cell phones, GPS navigation systems, radios and passengers in their cars also pose risks. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NTSA) estimates that 80 percent of all accidents are caused by distracted drivers.
The most commonly blamed driver distractions are cell phones and PDAs used while driving.
A published study estimated that cell phone use while driving causes 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries each year.
Many believe that the actual number of injuries and deaths associated with cell phone use and texting are much higher than reported. The New York Times ran a story that detailed how the federal government had suppressed important information regarding the dangers of talking on cell phones while operating motor vehicles. Additionally, many states do not list cell phones as an official cause of car accidents, making it difficult to accurately determine the true number of accidents caused by them.
A 21 year old Utah resident was recently charged with negligent homicide for distracted driving. He was charged with two class-A misdemeanors after he caused a fatal accident that killed two men. The pick up truck he was driving crossed over the center line and struck the Saturn carrying the two, throwing it into an oncoming Ford F-250 killing them instantly. He was texting and driving. According to cell phone records his last text was sent at the same moment his truck crossed over the center
line.
The issue of cell phone use while behind the wheel has received so much attention that the US Department of Transportation has actually held summits to discuss the dangers of cell phone use and texting and measures for reducing the number of accidents that they cause. The federal government has also considered pulling federal funding from states that do not take action against cell phone use and texting while driving.
Several states, including California, have already passed laws that prevent drivers from talking on their cell phones unless they use a hands free device. However, a recent study revealed that these devices do little to nothing to prevent driver distraction. The act of talking on a phone is as much a distraction as dialing or receiving calls.
States have also begun passing laws that ban texting while driving. Currently, about half of the states ban either all or some drivers from texting. California passed a ban in 2009 that prohibits all drivers from texting while driving and made the violation a primary offense, meaning that the police have the power to pull over any driver who is seen texting or using a cell phone with out a hands free device. However, the ability of the police officers to enforce these types of bans is questionable, especially in heavily populated areas like Southern California.
It’s alarming to think that as the number of drivers on our roads and highways increase, so will all of the risks. Ironically, the greatest risks to all drivers are drivers themselves.