Cell Phone Usage and Texting While Driving - Assignment Example

Cell Phone Usage/Texting While Driving s Driving while texting is a public safety issue, that needs adequate attention. The problem has been accelerated as more teenagers and adults with texting habits become drivers that are licensed. The strategies to curb this behavior are multidimensional hence helping in condemning such a behavior both socially and legally. This has been done through the provision of alternative and safer ways such as the use of modern technologies, awareness creation and banning the behavior by various state governments. Cell Phone Usage/Texting While Driving The use of cell by individuals while driving is an extremely heated and controversial topic for debate all over the globe. Annually, millions of people globally lose their lives in accident triggered via the use of cell phone. Despite the dangers of texting or talking on a cell phone by individuals well known, people are so ignorant and do not want to listen to the government pleas of eliminating phone usage while driving. As a matter of fact, most people value the calls and texts more in comparison to their lives and other lives of innocent people using the road. Given the fact that cell phone usage whilst driving prohibition has worked for some various states, majority of individuals are too ignorant to pay attention to the prohibition. Driving and cell phone usage are not compatible just like driving and alcohol. The combination of the two only results to endangering one’s life and other innocent people as well. Therefore, irrespective of whether an individual state has legally prohibited it or not, individuals should put a stop to cell phone usage while driving. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to provide solutions to the above problem via stating the advantages of banning cell phone usage/ texting while driving. Consequences of Using a Cell Phone While Driving Solutions can only be suggested after the various state governments and people understand the consequences that are accompanied with using of cell phone while driving. It is true that driving needs a lot of concentration, precision and judgment. Any alteration of these abilities can expose an individual to an extreme danger (Reddick, 2009). When an individual uses a cell phone, his or her concentration gets shifted from the road to what is being discussed over the phone. As a result, an individual may not notice a vehicle making a change on the lane, or a vehicle speeding from the opposite direction thus causing an accident via colliding heads with it. Pedestrians hitting is the most severe offence that is culpable that an individual can commit while using a cell phone and at the same time driving. The use of hand free gadgets not necessarily limits an individual chance of causing an accident in any manner. Various researches and studies have proved the statement. Playing mobile games and texting while driving is a perfect example of behaviors that are irresponsible characterized by the users of cell phones. The behavior least acceptable is the receiving of emergency calls in situations that are certain. On the contrary, there are no justifications for gaming or texting on the phone in whatever situation. That is why various solutions have been put across to curb such a behavior. Solutions are such as banning the activity, exerting peer pressure and raising awareness and safety improvement through technology use. Cell Phone Use Ban While Driving Globally, several countries have banned the usage of cell phone while driving on the public roads. For instance, in the United States of America, various states have entirely prohibited the cell phone usage while driving. On the other hand, some states have partially banned the usage of cell phones while driving. This means that, the banning is imposed upon specific vehicles such as vehicles used for public transport and buses. In some cases, the ban might prevail in areas that are specific including residential neighborhoods downtown areas or schools among others. However, cell phone usage ban does not mean that individuals will refrain themselves from cell phone utilization while driving. In addition to that, it is extremely difficult for government officials and cops to monitor each driver. Furthermore, fine, legal implications or judicial procedures that are so lengthy cannot reverse the impacts brought about as a result of using a cell phone while driving nor can they resurrect individuals who have lost their lives. Some individuals may argue that cell phones can be used by drivers for rescue situations. In addition to that, some claim that, banning individual use of cell phone is a form of personal right encroachment by the government thus making the subject to be so controversial (Halloran, 2009). This is the key reason why some states have not allowed the passing of the ant-texting legislations. Hence, the effectiveness of a ban can only be achieved if each and every driver acts in a responsible manner through valuing other people lives and his own included. The only advantage with this method is that, majority of people will become very responsible leading to fewer deaths on the roads (Gardner, 2010). Companies have also taken an initiative in banning their employees from the use of cell phone while driving. This is quite significant as employees can help in the enforcement of the banning legislations via discouraging their other employees from phone usage/ texting while driving. This is possible through violation reporting and highlighting the digits of days that were accident free over a specified period of time (Governors Highway Safety Association, 2010). Exerting peer pressure and Awareness Raising Awareness creating about the problem can help. This can be made possible via opening up a website that contain all information on the consequences of texting/ phone usage while driving. The information can portray information such as distracted driving which comprises of background and statistics information on the consequences and advantages of texting or phone usage while driving. Federal and state legislative initiatives may fail to be passed. However, if the press media covers them, they can greatly help in raising awareness with regards to safety risks that are associated with driving while texting(Hahn et al., 2000). Insurers of property-casualty can support through funding of television commercials that advertises on distracted driving. In addition to that, members of the public can help via carrying out a dialogue with public members on the dangers of driving while texting. The gathering should be constituted of young adult and teens who might engage themselves in behaviors that are risky. While creating awareness, individuals are always encouraged to designate a person who can write texts for them in case they are expectant of a message that is urgent. Parents too can aid in modeling driving behaviors that are safe. This can be achieved through having dialogue with their children about the consequences of distracted driving. Peer pressure is also an ingredient in stemming up of driving behaviors that are undesirable. This has triggered effective safety public campaigns on drunk driving and usage of safety belt. Safety Improvement through Technology The use of technology helps in addressing texting drivers’ problem. A technological solution that prevents loss are such as those that limits or discourages use of wireless devise while driving and those that aids in ensuring that the car control is not loosed by the driver. For example, safe driving systems that are Utah-based, LLC has enabled the creation of a software solution that can be installed in an individual cell phone within a few minutes. It helps in diverting calls into voice mail. Moreover, it responds via sending text messages that are automated for purposes of informing the subject that the driver will only respond to him after reaching his final destination. This greatly helps in reducing road accidents. Part Three: Disadvantages of the above solutions Despite the availability of various strategies to curb texting while driving, enforcing of the strategies is quite hectic. For example, the states government ban on use of various cell phone while driving has resulted to opposition from various individuals such as officials in the law enforcement, industry dealing with cell phones, consumers and business leaders. Individuals’ views such an action as unethical. Some state officers view it as a means of infringing an individual right to communicate, while in terms of business, people view it as a way of sending signals that are negative in terms of technology and business receptivity. Moreover, banning of cell phone usage while texting or driving results to new burdens on consumers and police via diverting their attention from multiple causes that triggers distractive driving. These causes are even more serious in comparison to cell phone usage while driving. Some people have argued that, there exists no clear relationship between auto accidents increase and usage of wireless phone. They have gone further to explain that, education rather than regulation is the perfect approach that can be used to put an end to road accidents. Thus, making government bans extremely difficult to implement as people hold divergent views. The use of technology to avoid distraction while driving is a good idea but implementing it is costly. Even though they aid in elimination of collisions caused via distracted driving, all needs heavy involvement of the private sector for it succeed. In addition to that, the government will be needed improve and broaden the highway shoulder pavements for purposes of incorporating numerous rumble strips. As such, the rumble strip will help in alerting errant drivers incase they have left partly the highway (Clayton et al., 2006). In conclusion, cell phones have played a significant role in our lives. However, utilization of cell phones while driving can result to fatal or dangerous outcome on the public roads. In essence the trend of diving while texting have rapidly increased. To date, attention has been shifted to awareness raising and banning the texting practice for all drivers. From researches conducted, it is obvious that texting while driving has severe consequences. Use of technology has got various advantages. This is because of their potential to eliminate the magnitude of cognitive, visual and manual destruction that occurs as a result of receiving or sending text messages. Safety automotive technologies such as cross-traffic alerts, warning systems in case of collision, stability control that is electronic and change indicators in road lanes will enhance the mitigation the driver inattention consequences. Finally, children, parents, community leaders and professional in the insurance industry have a role to play in ending this habit. Since, it is not acceptable socially to drive in absence of a seat belt or drive when you are drunk, the same should be applied to texting while driving. how to hang up a cell phone while driving. References Clayton, M., Helms, B., & Simpson, C. (2006). Active prompting to decrease cell phone use and increase seat belt use while driving. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 39(3), 341-9. Gardner, L. (2010). What to do about texting and driving .CPCU Journal, 1-13 Governors Highway Safety Association.(2010). Cell Phone and Texting Laws. Retrieved May 31, March, 2012 from, http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html Hahn, R. W., Tetlock, P. C., & Burnett, J. K. (2000). Should you be allowed to use your cellular phone while driving? Regulation, 23(3), 46-55. Halloran, Liz. “Government Eyes Crackdown on Texting and Driving.”(2009). Retrieved May, 2012, from, http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113325341 Reddick, D. B. (2009). Texting while driving: Hot public policy issue. American Agent & Broker, 81(10), 64-64, 66. Read More