Should texting while driving be illegal - Research Paper Example

Banning text messaging while driving will make drivers more self-aware of the consequences and will reduce the number of accidents caused by similar distractions. Howie (2008) provides an example how tempted drivers who are lured to check all the more familiar beep on the cell phone notifying of received text message can be trapped by their curiosity and lose lots of money. Howie (2008) briefly explains how this is possible, describing how the driver reaches for the cell phone, believe that 60 seconds of quick typing to respond to the so urgent text will not cause any trouble.

Suddenly, the car in front of you breaks to a halt so rapidly and unexpectedly that you are unable to react and crash into it. “During the claims process your insurance company starts checking your cell-phone communications in the run-up to the accident (Howie par. 3).” Now you have lost considerable amount of money, only because you can not control your addiction to cell phone texting. Ramos (2009) mentions a Car and Driver study launched in June 2009 which questions the ability to text and drive safely.

The study covers males between age 22 and 37 and measures their reactions while texting and driving and while drinking and driving. Afterwards they compare the data. The results show that the 22-year-olds driving at 35 mph needed additional 21 feet to stop while reading a text while the traffic light signaled red. However, if they were writing a text they needed extra 16 feet. “While reading a text and driving at 70 mph, the same subject traveled about 31 extra feet while typing. In comparison, he traveled half that – 15 extra feet – while drunk (Ramos par.6).” The 37-year-olds reached far worse scores.

Although the results suggest ageism – the study openly indicates that no matter what age, even if you are using familiar cell, the chances of being distracted reading or sending text while driving soar. We also have to take into account that the