Texting While Driving: A Life at Risk Behind the Wheels - Essay Example

First and and Section Number of Assignment Texting While Driving: A Life at Risk Behind the Wheels Introduction Mobile devices have become not just an integral but an inevitable part of everyday lives. The vast number of purpose they serve, apart from being simply a means of communication, makes it almost impossible not to use them in a day, sometimes even in a minute. One would check his cellular phone every so often regardless of how important the task at hand is or how limited the time left to spend with valued people. At times, if it is not possible to do two things at the same time, then even for a fraction of a second, the mobile phone somehow comes first. This is where the problem begins. Setting aside the social and work-related aspects, the incessant use of mobile phones regardless of the situation has already been putting lives at risk – especially, if it is done behind the wheels. Using the mobile phones, or at the very least, texting while driving is outright dangerous and should be stopped. There is a number of studies and policies done on this matter which proves that this is more than just a bias observation but is something based on facts. The Root of the Problem To argue the existence of the problem requires establishing the cause. In this case, the cause of the problem is the relentless use of mobile phones while driving. In a research conducted by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2011, it was reported that 31.2% of drivers in the United States aged 18-64 years admitted to texting or accessing email while driving (Naumann 179). Though at a lower percentage than in the United States, the incidence of such behavior among seven European countries surveyed ranged from 15.1% to 31.3% (Naumann 179) – figures which are difficult to ignore. This means that this problem is not unique to the United States alone but is probably being faced by many other countries wherein researches have yet to be conducted. In a separate report by the U.S. Department of Transportation, it was found that the percentage of drivers who text or manipulate mobile devices even increased from 1.3 percent in 2011 to 1.5 percent in 2012 (Pickrell 1). Further comparisons included the years prior – as early as 2004 – and surprisingly, an increasing trend in the use of electronic devices was evident. It is important to reiterate that this statistics pertains to texting alone and does not yet even cover other mobile phone related activities done while driving such as making a call, surfing the internet, listening to music, etc. Nevertheless, the figures goes to show that a lot of people have not realized the danger of texting while driving. Perhaps, even if they do, the matter has not been taken seriously considering that this issue has been brought to awareness for quite some time and yet the number of people engaging in this practice continues to increase, as proven by these reports. Furthermore, the figures just prove that the cause of the problem is indeed existent, which is something that has to be worked on if the problem is to be eradicated. The Effect on Driver’s Performance Meanwhile, the problem at hand is the danger that texting while driving brings. How texting while driving causes harm is perhaps the most important matter to point out. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has coined the term, distracted driving, which is defined as “driving while doing another activity that takes your attention away from driving” (“Distracted Driving”). Texting which, “simultaneously involves manual, visual, and cognitive distraction, is among the worst of all driver distractions” (Vegega, Jones & Monk 2) because according to researches compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the use of hand-held gadgets such as cellular phones while driving impedes a driver’s performance for the reason that visual and auditory clues essential to avoid accidents are more likely to be missed (“Policy Statement and Compiled FAQ”). Someone who texts and drives is unable to monitor the road situation; hence, the likelihood of a crash increases. As a matter of fact, in a recently published study, it was stated that texting is “associated with the highest levels of driving performance degradation” (qtd. in Vegega, Jones & Monk 2). This can be attributed to several reasons. One, drivers who text while driving have longer reaction times – for instance, in stepping on the brakes and reacting to traffic signals (“Mobile Phone Use” 1). Another thing is that distractions like texting during driving affects the driver’s ability to stay in the correct lane and maintain appropriate following distances (“Mobile Phone Use” 1). In addition, a University of Utah research goes as far as comparing the reaction time of a teen driver to that of an old man. It was said that a teen driver on a mobile device is not different from that of a 70-year-old who is not using any (“Don’t Text and Drive”). Another study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute even found that the likelihood for texting while driving to result to a vehicular accident is six times more than driving when drunk (“Don’t Text and Drive”). As such, it is said that using mobile phones while driving is four times more likely to end up in a crash than when these hand-held distractions are not around (“Mobile Phone Use” 1). Clearly, the efficiency of multi-tasking does not apply to driving for this activity requires focus without any distractions. There are a lot more of researches done regarding this problem – some has yet to be published. Yet the fact that the results of different studies are consistent shows that there is indeed a problem to be addressed. The consequences of texting while driving have been proven by various studies and researches. Nonetheless, it does not really take an expert to know that texting while driving is dangerous. Consequences of the Texting While Driving The danger of texting while driving is more than just mere theories and speculations of experts. Death and injury resulting from this practice have already occurred and is continuously occurring. The United States Department of Transportation noted that mobile phones are responsible in 1.6 million of vehicular accident cases each year, resulting to 6,000 deaths; not to mention about half a million injuries (“Don’t Text and Drive”). The available data shows that in 2011, ten percent of the 29,757 deadly crashes in the United States is due to distracted driving (Vegega, Jones & Monk 11). Among this, 3,331 deaths occurred (Vegega, Jones & Monk 11). Mobile phones are often cited as a leading cause of distraction among those that were recognized. It is also attributed to the 12 percent fatal crashes caused by distracted driving (qtd. in Vegega, Jones & Monk 11). What happens when a driver texts and drives is that he is risking not only his own but other innocent people’s lives. This is perhaps the reason that an even greater number of people is reported dead from vehicular accidents than the actual number of cases identified. Still in 2011, the number of people injured in distraction-caused crashes was about 387,000 – among this, are about 21,000 people involved in cellular phone use while driving (Vegega, Jones & Monk 11). Despite the lack of more recent data, the fact that there are people who died and got injured due to the use of mobile phones while driving should already be a cause of alarm. Looking at the bigger picture alone is devastating that it is hard to imagine the individual stories of victims whose lives have been taken away by what seems to be a harmless activity – only if it was not done behind the wheels. What Has Been Done The weight of the problem has already pushed for the implementation of laws and policies regarding this matter. Several states in the U.S. have already prohibited the use of mobile phones while driving. Though no state has completely banned all forms of mobile phone use while driving, eleven states including California, Connecticut, Nevada, New York – to name a few – have already placed restrictions on talking over mobile phones while driving (Pickrell 7). On the other hand, there are forty-one states, in which texting while driving have been prohibited (Pickrell 7). Moreover, while federal laws are yet to be implemented regarding the use of mobile phones while driving, an executive order has already been issued banning federal employees from texting while driving during official businesses (“Policy Statement and Compiled FAQs”). This is also applicable to contractors involved in government business. Aside from this, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has implemented a prohibition on commercial vehicle drivers to text while driving (“Policy Statement and Compiled FAQs”). Other than these policies, the government, through the U.S. Department of Transportation has strengthened its campaign against distracted driving, which of course, covers texting while driving (“Policy Statement and Compiled FAQs”). Although intervention has been started, it is still a long way before this issue can be resolved. Admittedly, this is quite a new predicament brought about by advancement of technology that made people heavily dependent to the point of taking safety for granted. Much work has to be done to strengthen the researches that would enable better policymaking. The little steps taken, though may not be able to eradicate the problem, can raise awareness regarding this matter. Having presented all these laws brings up another reason why people should not text and drive. Regardless of whether one agrees that texting while driving is dangerous or not, one should not text and drive because he/she cannot simply violate the law. Conclusion Indeed, there is no doubt that texting while driving is extremely dangerous and should be stopped. The facts have already been laid out to prove this point; not to mention that there is such thing as common sense. It is the responsibility of a driver to run the vehicle safely not just for his/her own good but also for the welfare of other people on the road. Carrying out this responsibility requires undivided attention and focus. Multi-tasking is not possible behind wheels without compromising safety. It is disheartening when life is being put at risk just because one have to send that text. There may be devastating events that people could not control but harm resulting from irresponsible texting while driving is clearly not one of them. Death should not happen due to things as preventable as this. A second or two that a driver’s attention is taken off the road can result to irreversible consequences. That text can wait. Works Cited “Distracted Driving.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10 Oct. 2014. Web. 29 Apr. 2015. “Don’t Text and Drive. Let’s Save Some Lives.” Parkview Trauma Centers, 2011. Web. 29 Apr. 2015. “Mobile Phone Use: A Growing Problem of Driver Distraction.” World Health Organization, n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2015. Naumann, R. “Mobile Device Use While Driving — United States and Seven European Countries, 2011.” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 62.10 (2013): 177-182. Print. Pickrell, T. M. “Driver Electronic Device Use in 2012.” Traffic Safety Facts Research Note Report No. DOT HS 811 884 (2014). Print. “Policy Statement and Compiled FAQs on Distracted Driving.” National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. US Department of Transportation, n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2015. Vegega, M., Jones, B., & Monk, C. “Understanding the Effects of Distracted Driving and Developing Strategies to Reduce Resulting Deaths and Injuries: A Report to Congress.” National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Report No. DOT HS 812 053 (2013). Print. Works Cited (With Website URL) “Distracted Driving.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10 Oct. 2014. Web. 29 Apr. 2015. . “Don’t Text and Drive. Let’s Save Some Lives.” Parkview Trauma Centers, 2011. Web. 29 Apr. 2015. . “Mobile Phone Use: A Growing Problem of Driver Distraction.” World Health Organization, n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2015. . Naumann, R. “Mobile Device Use While Driving — United States and Seven European Countries, 2011.” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 62.10 (2013): 177-182. Print. . Pickrell, T. M. “Driver Electronic Device Use in 2012.” Traffic Safety Facts Research Note Report No. DOT HS 811 884 (2014). Print. . “Policy Statement and Compiled FAQs on Distracted Driving.” National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. US Department of Transportation, n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2015. . Vegega, M., Jones, B., & Monk, C. “Understanding the Effects of Distracted Driving and Developing Strategies to Reduce Resulting Deaths and Injuries: A Report to Congress.” National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Report No. DOT HS 812 053 (2013). Print. . Read More