Texting While Driving Research Paper

Kenzie Henderson

Mrs. Mann

English 4

21 April 2010

Texting while driving is NOT worth the risk

The number one source of driver inattention is use of a cell phone. Drivers that text or talk on cell phones while driving are four times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety). My first and only wreck so far, since I receiving my license a year ago, was caused because of texting while driving. Luckily I wasn’t going very fast, so no one was hurt and there was very little damage; however, it definitely scared me, and I now realize how dangerous it really is. Texting while driving should be against the law because it can be very hazardous and lead to regretful
consequences. The most dangerous thing about texting while driving is that both your hands and brain are distracted (Wood). Studies using driving distractions implied that listening and talking on the phone were just as dangerous as texting, but such studies proved not to be true because texting while driving far outweighs the dangers of any other distractions. A study by Car and Driver magazine also proved texting to be more dangerous than driving while intoxicated (“Tests reveal dangers when texting while driving”). Yet, compared to other distractions, says Rich Hanowski, “texting is in its own universe of risk” (Richtel). The University of Utah found that drivers take their eyes off the road for at least five seconds when texting. “When drivers have their eyes on their cell phone instead of the road, the results can be deadly,” notes Senator Charles Shumer of New York (“Tests reveal dangers when texting while driving”). Texting while driving continues to be a leading cause of death. One reason for this is because when people multi-task while driving, they lose the ability to monitor themselves and the road (Wood). Making known the need to cut back driver distraction and injuries due to accidents, lawmakers advise states to outlaw texting while driving or not receive as much money for highways (“Tests reveal dangers when texting while driving”). Resulting from this, Tulsa City Council G.T. Bynum persuaded the council to allow the city to pass a bill to ban texting while driving. “This isn’t like motorcycle helmets or seatbelts,” says Bynum, “this is about someone whose actions could kill someone else, not meaning to, but its happening.” Bynum said (Krehbiel A4). Texting while driving is dangerous behavior for anyone, but especially teens who are still learning to drive. They have enough to worry about just handling the car when they start out (Krehbiel A4). “Someone needs to do something about it or it will keep getting worse,” says Rocky Kaller, a senior at Nova Southeastern University, adding that research reveals texting behind the wheel slows driver’s reaction time by 35% - three times more than drunk driving. In response, Kaller began Project Stop Texting and Talking in Cars (STATIC) at school to make his fellow classmates aware of how much of a distraction texting is. There is no way you can be a defensive driver and stay safe if your eyes are off the road, so Kaller is trying to make his project a course that teenagers must take before they receive a permit in Florida. (“Tests reveal dangers when texting while driving”). Statistics prove that there are 4,000 deaths a year due to accidents. 84% of these accidents are caused by distractions, including texting while driving. As a result, more and more states are relying on their legislators to ban texting altogether since research has revealed that accidents due to texting is still on the rise (Wood). According to the Virginia Tech Transportation, seconds before an accident, drivers look down at their phone for at least five seconds, which in time can cover an entire football field. Consequently, their risk of getting into an accident is 23 greater than when they text (Richtel). The most significant thing about this new phenomenon of texting while driving is it affects all ages (Wood). According to the House staff of Tulsa, Oklahoma, 20% of fatal car accidents involving teen drivers were caused by the use of cell phones. Another study over an eighth month period concluded that college students showed an eight time greater risk texting while driving than when not (Richtel). For instance, a teacher and her young daughter were seriously injured when a college age driver, distracted by texting, hit them head on and killed them both. There was also another incident where five cheerleaders were killed in a car accident; it was proved that the driver was texting (Wood). The repeated drive carefully campaigns seem to not be working, as drivers continue to text behind the wheel (Wood). According to the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office, 3,547 drivers involved in crashes in 2007 and 2008 were distracted by electronic devices including cell phones, pagers, and GPS systems. Nearly half of those crashes involved drivers between 16 and 25 years of age. Furthermore, cell phones were in use by drivers in more than 20% of fatal car accidents have been the leading cause of death among teens; cell phones and texting have increased that danger (Krehbiel A1). Out of all fifty states only fourteen have banned texting while driving.
These include Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Washington. Oklahoma is in the process of trying to get the ban passed. Above all, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute believes that texting should be put to a stop and teens who just got their licenses be banned from all cell phone use. However, the legislation would require all states to ban texting while driving or lose 25% of their funds for highways. States would have two years to approve the ban of texting while driving and could get back highway funds following the two year period (“Tests reveal danger of texting while
driving”). If a bill by Representative Sue Tibbs, R-Tulsa passes, texting while driving will be banned in Oklahoma. As of February 24th, 2010, it has gone through the Public Safety Committee, easily passing 10-2 with very little discussion. This bill would also ban teens with their learners permit from talking and texting on their cell phones. The committee also passed a similar measure to ban the use of all cell phones by public transit drivers and operators, including school bus drivers. The ban to stop texting and talking while behind the wheel would be very important and beneficial. Hopefully it will alert drivers and encourage them to pull over to a safe area if they feel the need to text. The law will not only better the safety of the driver, but also other drivers on the road (Krehbiel A4). Some state legislators and officials are opposed to ban texting while driving claiming they need more information on the rules and regulations (Richtel).Similarly, critics have debated whether texting while driving could be enforced, or if careless driving laws cover it already.
However, the Governor’s Highway Safety Association understands that there are dangers involved with texting behind the wheel, but doesn’t agree with a ban because they think it would be too hard to enforce. “Highway safety laws are only effective if they can be enforced, and if the public believe they will be fined for not obeying. To this day, that has been the case with other cell phone restrictions,” said Vernon Betkey, the highway safety chairman (“Tests reveal dangers of texting while
driving”). Representative Jason Murphy of Guthrie joined Representative Mike Ritze of Broken Arrow as the only two lawmakers to vote against the bill to ban texting while driving in Oklahoma. Murphy would still want to legally surf the web on his iphone while driving (Krehbiel A4). Similarly, Steve Largent, a former Oklahoma congressman who leads Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association- the Wireless Association said his organization supports state legislative remedies to solve this issue, but simply passing a law will not change behavior. “We also need to educate new and experienced drivers on the dangers of taking their eyes off the road and hands off the wheel” (“Tests reveal dangers of texting while driving”). Oklahoma Driving School owner Robert Cole also believes the proposed bill to ban texting while driving is a step in the right direction, but he knows it will have opposition. “Even if it does pass, states Cole, people will still talk and text on their cell phones while they drive.” If the bill is passed, violators will be fined up to $1,000 (Krehbiel A4). States would not be worried about texting while driving if it wasn’t such a problem. Texting while driving is an obvious danger and not worth the many accidents and lives lost as a result. It happens everyday. Drivers send out text messages without a second thought of what lies ahead. We’re so attached to our cell phones. We’re so fixated at texting and driving we lose sight of what we’re supposed to be doing, and we’re supposed to be driving. It only takes a few seconds to take an innocent life away. An 18-year old senior recently died because he was texting while driving. Police later found out that the last text message he sent was a simple “Yeah.” This shows just how much of a distraction it is. Texting while driving should be banned in all states because it has been proven to be dangerous and result in accidents and avoidable deaths.