The Consequences Of Texting And Driving

Cell phones have dramatically evolved and increased over the last few years, and because of this change, the use of talking and texting on the phone while driving has increased. While people are on looking for the next big thing in a cell phones, they fail to pay attention to the road that lies ahead of them. This could cause car accidents, fines, and endangering other drivers. Not only teen drivers are using cell phones, but older drivers too. The consequences are injury or death, or getting a ticket and fine. The Federal Government also have many major companies involved, such as AT&T and Toyota to name a few, to set up pledges that state the driver will not use his or her cell phone while behind the wheel. The government also has a website,
distraction.gov, which has videos of the consequences of using your phone, and other parts of distracted driving. There are many solutions the Federal Government could set up to help stop the use of phones while driving. One solution is having stricter laws, and making sure law enforcement knows how to lookout for those using a cell phone behind the wheel. They could also raise the fines. Instead of each state raising the fines, the Federal Government should set a higher amount so all travelers know the consequences. A final solution to this could be a class on distracted driving. Families of loved ones who have died due to a careless act, should come in and talk to the ones that have to take a class. Many people believe that it won’t happen to them when it comes to wrecking from using a cell phone and driving. They believe that they are experienced driver and they can multi-task. However, a wreck can happen at any time and it can happen anywhere. According to distraction.gov, 3,154 people were killed in 2013 from distracted driving. Also, that people who text and drive are twenty times more likely to be involved in an accident than a person who is focusing on the road. This puts others around the driver in immediate danger the minute they pull out their cell phone. Not only does it put other drivers in danger, but pedestrians as well. If someone is driving, and they pull out their cell phone, they take their eyes of the road. If a child, or other person walks out in the road, they driver won’t be focused and can hit and kill that person or seriously injure them. In another case, if they are talking on the phone, and someone tells them something bad had happened and they get news that may be upsetting, they could be overemotional and lose control over the car if not properly stopped. This puts other drivers on the road at risk. No one is safe from the dangers of distracted driving with cell phones, not only the driver is in danger but those in the surrounding areas are in danger as well. As technology advances, the use of cell phones increases, even while driving.
According to undistracteddrivingadvocacy.net, the charts show a rapid increase of fatalities that occurred because of cell phone use behind the wheel. Cars are being built with hands-free technology where it can read the text out loud or people can talk without having to hold the phone and GPS. Many people believe this is safer, but it’s not necessarily safer. If someone sends a driver a shocking text message, that person could lose control over the car if they become overemotional. The driver is taking their attention off the road to listen to that message or to talk to someone. They may believe they are highly engaged in driving and texting or listening, but they may not be fully aware of their surroundings. The best way to prevent this is to pull over if the message is urgent. No matter how much you believe you need to talk to someone, it’s important to think about the dangers before getting behind the
wheel. One consequence of getting behind the wheel and using a cell phone is death. Not everyone will get killed from distracted driving, however, you are more likely to wreck, which could result in death or serious injury. Not only is the driver at risk, but passengers, pedestrians and other drivers on the road as well. When someone pulls out their phone while driving, they are risking the lives of others. If a driver chooses to use a cell phone while driving, they could hit someone or something. If a pedestrian is walking across the street and a driver is too busy talking or texting to pay any attention, or to stop in time, they could kill or severely injure that pedestrian. Many things could happen, such as a small child running out into the road without the parents looking. Ultimately, the driver is responsible for the actions they take leading up to an accident. If they are distracted by their cell phone, they should be charged. To help stop distracted driving, police need to be more trained to look out for those using phones while driving, and the government is on its way to setting stricter laws. The laws need to be more enforced by every state. Police need to enforce this rule because it can potentially save hundreds, if not thousands, of innocent lives. Once drivers realize that they could get fined easier, they may want to put the phone down until they safely stop. If the police get proper training on this matter, they could potentially save many lives just by stopping one driver. The police need to have classes, as well as have class for civilians who want to be more informed on the matter. Once people realize that they could get a ticket for something so minor, many may want to stop using the phone while driving, because they don’t want to face that consequence. Police can be trained by the government, so they can stop unsafe drivers. Another solution is allowing the Federal Government to set a price on fines from using the phone while driving.
Instead of raising it different prices from state to state, the government should set a price for all states. Travelers would know the consequences already from their action, and not have to wonder what the consequences are, if any, in that certain state. They would know the price, and may think twice if it’s high enough. The more fines they get means they could potentially lose their license, all because they felt the need to use a cell phone while driving, putting others live at risk for their own personal satisfaction. The more someone will have to pay, the less they may use their cell phones. After a while, the fines will add up and it may become a wake-up call for some. They may also be required to pay more money to get a lawyer. Also, there is a huge risk that they will get their license revoked if they keep adding points. Their insurance rates may skyrocket as well. If they don’t pay the ticket, they could end up in jail. People, especially teenagers, who don’t have the money but get the ticket will be devastated, and for some, they will stop texting and driving. This may stop many people, also saving many
lives. The preferred solution is a driving class consisting of four or more classes, held and funded by the Federal Government. During the time in the classes, families of people who had got killed because of use of cell phone while driving, whether they were the driver, passenger, or fellow driver, should come in and talk to the class. In addition to that, they should have graphic images showing what could likely happen if they choose to carelessly use their phone. Like many drivers ED programs, they could also set up cones and have a golf cart the students in the class could use. They could take their phones and text while driving the golf cart around the cones. It could show them how fast they could get into an accident, just by taking their eyes off the road for one second. This may be a wake-up call to many. They should also have to pledge that they will not text and drive, or talk on the phone and drive. If they end up having to take the class again, they should have to pay for the class. The class should be at least $100, and to add more, they should get their license suspended if they are caught using a cell phone after the first class, until they successfully complete the second course, and show the court and the officer who pulled them over. To get their suspended license back, it would cost around $110 or more. They would also have to pay the $100 class and possibly a lawyer and the fine. The use of cell phones is more common today than it has been in the past. It leaves one to question if it will continue to increase each year, resulting in more accidents and in deaths. More cell phones are being produced and that leaves people to get distracted. If the driver takes their eyes off the road, even for a second, the result could be fatal. The solutions that were proposed could stop distracted driving altogether, or slow it down and minimize it. The higher fines, and the class could keep many thinking before they get behind the wheel of a car on their phone. There are many companies who allow drivers to pledge to not use the phone and drive. The moment the driver pulls out a cell phone and proceeds to use it could be their last moments.