Texting and Driving

Technology had changed the society massively. People use their cell phones to communicate with friends or for business calls. People have been so used to using their cell phones to call or text in a daily basis. Now cell phones are major distractions when people are driving. People are so used to using their cell phones, some people consciously use them without knowing it and soon cause accidents that injury innocent people.

Teens today have been in many crashes or died because of the carelessness of themselves or others. The main reason for this is because they are not paying attention when driving and not being careful. Cell phones are major distractions when driving. A report from the University of Utah say when motorists talk on cell phones they drive like an elderly person because their reactions are slower. The quarterly journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society said that when they tested teens on a driving stimulator and talked on their cell phone, they are breaking slowly like an elderly person.

In addition, driving is a privilege, so teens should not be driving and calling people, they should be more responsible and careful. Some scientists from different countries and the Farmers Insurance Group have been surveying people if cell phones affects their driving. The survey had 87% of the people said cell phones do affect their driving and 40% answered that close calls distract drivers. Another research by Donald R. and Robert T. say that cell phone use is risky as drunk driving. They had about 700 drivers and how they use their cell phones. Harvard also did research and shows that cell phone talking while driving causes over 6% of vehicle crashes. This would be about 12,000 injuries or 636,000 crashes each year. An AT&T survey found 75% said it is common of their friends to text and drive and that is a lot of people that can risk lives of others. There are many effects of people using their cell phones while driving and makes people legislate the use of cell phones when driving.

To prevent people from cell phone use and driving, by campaigns or legislating driving with the use of cell phones. AT&T launched a campaign to make teens pledge to stop driving and texting and its called It Can Wait. The AT&T campaign is great because it is using social media to change social norms. Other ways to stop texting and driving is if the driver is a teen, parents should tell them to stop or take away their cell phone when driving. Ways for drivers to prevent cell phone use in while driving is, putting your phone away where you can’t get it or a place where you won’t even look for it. Also, put the phone on silence or use an app to help you from driving and texting. Passengers can help the driver by texting for them or tell the driver to stop because they feel uneasy. There are many ways to prevent texting and driving. I would tell all my friends about the dangers of using a phone while driving. Whenever I am in a car and spot the driver glancing at their phone, I would tell them to stop or ask them if I can hold their phone.

Driving with the use of cell phones is very hazardous. The consequences are deadly, people can receive minor injuries by a car crash or end up with death. It is not fair for someone to lose their life because the driver wasn’t paying attention while driving. Also, it is not fair to the driver’s parent because they lose their child because of their child’s own carelessness. Drivers and passengers should act now and spread the word to prevent driving and texting.