Cell Phone Use is Dangerous, Research Paper Example

The dangers of texting while driving are quite pronounced on the roads today.  Danger in the wake of cell phone use is no stranger to lawmakers and organizations.  Wilson in 2007 notes that 89% of Americans believe texting is “distracting, dangerous, and should be outlawed,” yet 66% text while driving.  Against the background of the already dangerous act of cell phone use while driving, a much more potent danger has emerged in the cell phone on the road, with the topic of texting while driving.

Cell Phone Use is Dangerous

The use of cell phones while driving is dangerous.  It goes within the realm of common sense to suppose the increased distractions that occur during a cell phone conversation.  There are clearly enough distractions on the road to being able to handle an automobile.  The added weights that a cell phone brings in terms of conversation and stimuli are too much for any driver on the road.

Cell phone stimuli create an unsafe environment for the driver of a car and those around the automobile.  The conversation itself draws the attention of the driver away from the road to a degree.  Additionally, the driver is not able to hear the sounds while driving as easily when one’s attention is altered due to a cell phone, in both a visual and auditory manner , which is important in many cases, such as for emergency vehicles.

Other considerations add onto the distractions.  As not all drivers use hands free capabilities while speaking on the road, this incurs a level of danger.  One less hand is not conducive for safe driving.  When multitasking drivers who use a cell phone couple this use with something else, such as eating or writing down a note, driving safety is further compromised and compounded.  While some may argue that they can handle such distractions, this fails to recognize the complications of distractions that can attribute to an accident.  As a result, many factors may be attributed to the dangers that surround drivers on the road.  The cell phone must be one area in which dangers are limited by appropriate bans around the country.

Texting While Driving

Texting while driving is dangerous.  While there are difficulties in statistical analysis of text message while driving, the AAA reports that 46% of teens are distracted by texting behind the wheel.  A Virginia Tech Institute Study found that at 55 mph, a driver texting travels the distance of a football field without eyes on the road (Hanowski); the researchers recommended banning texting for all drivers.  When these two statistical bases are linked together, the immense dangers that result for America’s youth, as well as other individuals, speaks to the action that needs to be taken to help such dynamics.

The potency of text messaging while driving is quite considerable.  Compared to normal cell phone use, an unreleased study found that accidents related to texting increased six times (Livadas).  This adds onto the danger that is already involved in the case of driving while on the cell phone.  One experiment from Car and Driver saw texting as more dangerous than drunk driving (LeBeau).  Thus, from these two accounts of researchers close to the situation, it is clear that driving and texting is dangerous, which reject all opposing claims from some critics.

It is no wonder that text messaging while driving is more dangerous than cell phone conversations.  When we consider the time is takes to read a text message, it becomes more dangerous than something that is already distracting in that of the cell phone.  The Virginia Tech researchers in the aforementioned study gave the time a slightly above four seconds, which accounts for the distance of the football field traveled.  When we consider the inherent lack of hands-free devices for text messaging, the time taken to read a text message is quite dangerous.

Government Intervention in the United States

Currently the United States does not completely ban the act of texting while on the road.  This is unfortunate, where only 26 states currently have such a ban, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA).  In the serious dangers that surround the use of texting while on the roads, further action is necessary to prevent impending danger to drivers, as established by research, expert opinion, and matters of common sense on the road.  The United States must take such matters seriously an consider a nationwide ban to prevent the act of texting while on the road.

The government needs to get involved in matters quickly.  The government must review the statistics and studies, such as presented here, to determine the need of a federal ban.  Essential is in the determination of appropriate punishments for such acts.  For instance, Jones in 2010 notes the current British system, where text messaging is banned, that makes use of jail time for deaths caused by such activity.

The nationwide ban on texting while driving must take effect on different levels.  The government must make for its harmonious integration with current state laws.  The public needs to be properly informed by way of support initiatives and general public awareness methods.  Individuals wishing to get involved in these matters should contact local government officials or get involved in institutions in order to push towards increased legislation for texting while driving.

Counterarguments

Counterarguments against bans for texting while driving are relatively unseen.  There have been no attempts to combat the issues regarding the safety of texting while driving.  Additionally, there are no major arguments that oppose the illegal nature of texting while driving.

The major opposition to finding increased legal support for banning texting while driving is its presence in society.  This has been a recent topic in the past few years, presenting itself in obvious fashion as texting has not been around for too long.  With the relatively novel nature of texting, when compared to something as pure cell phone use while driving, the recent advent of texting and its subsequent and dangerous introduction onto America’s roads presents itself as the major opposition for increased legalization for such prohibition.

In this conceptual counter to prohibiting texting while driving, this is one definite area in which society can improve.  As it has been seen in some areas, such as in documentaries and advertisements by organizations, action needs to be taken in order to increase awareness regarding the state of texting while driving.  Individuals in America should be well aware of the increased danger that is involved when drivers text.

Conclusion

Texting while driving is an extremely dangerous act.  Researchers have demonstrated the increased risk when a driver chooses to text on one’s cell phone while actually driving on the road.  It shortens attention span by drawing the eyes of a driver to read, and thus away from one’s concentration on the road.

Distractions such as these create a much more dangerous situation than a cognate problem.  Lawmakers have long attacked the use of cell phones by drivers in itself.  Around the country there are bans in certain states for such action, and more common bans in this dynamic, such as in cell phone use in construction zones.

However, when the two are compared, there is no competition in which one is more dangerous.  Research and expert opinion unanimously points to the increased danger of texting while driving.  Texting while driving has been shown to be much more dangerous than more normal cell phone use by drivers.

Government intervention is needed for texting by drivers.  Following the lead of approximately half of the states in America, texting while driving should be banned across the United States.  This should take effect in any circumstance; i.e. not just in certain locations, such as construction zones.  The government should take the initiative in such advances, as has been seen in the recent ban of such action by all government workers.

In society awareness should be raised.  The dangers involved by the use of cell phone in drivers are not very well known.  Educators should become involved in educating young people about these dangers, an age group that is specifically at risk, according to statistics.  The general public can also be informed of such dangers by means such as advertisements, as has been seen for other dangers, such as drinking and driving and driving without a seat belt.

These two important aspects are able to come together to help combat the immense dangers of texting while driving.  It is a danger that is more pronounced than cell phone use while driving.  It is also more pronounced than drinking while driving, something that is a great focus for the legal system across America.  As society comes to know the dangers surrounding texting while driving, individuals will be able to prevent such activity.  However, legal action must also be taken in order to uniformly ban such action.  These advances would drastically alter the presence of texting while driving, a force that continues to take many lives on the road.

Works Cited

Hanowski, Richard. “Driver Distraction in Commercial Vehicle Operations.” 2009. Web. May 24, 2010.

Jones, Ashby. “Crime and Punishment: On ‘Texting’ and Driving.” Wall Street Journal. November 2, 2009. Web. May 24, 2010.

LeBaeau, Phil. “Texting and Driving Worse Than Drinking and Driving.”CNBC. June 25, 2009. Web. May 24, 2010.

Livadas, Greg. “Text Messaging Not Illegal but Data Clear on Its Peril.” July 24, 2007. Web. May 24, 2010.

Wilson, Mark. “89% of Americans Want Texting While Driving Outlawed.” Gizmodo. August 7, 2007. Web. May 24, 2010.