Dangers of Texting while Driving

Sometimes we make bad choices which can be dangerous to our lives or affect the people lives around us. I'm sure there has been a time when you have been on your phone while on the road. It could be to respond to a message, answer a phone call or change a song. 37% of car rides include some type of phone involvement. Your life can be gone in a matter of seconds. It only takes 3 seconds for a drivers attention to be off the road for a crash to occur. Texting and driving stories occur in the news or an article just about every day.

Technology has become a huge part of our lives. Cell phone demand grows more everyday. The quickest way to communicate is through using our cell phones. We have easy access to social media, texting, video chats etc.. on our smartphones. People are so worried about being updated about whats on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and texting back on time. Founder of the Center for Internet and Technology Addiction, David Greenfield, stated that one reason it's so hard to stay away from electronic devices while driving is because of smartphones addictive nature(Teensafe 2018). Our brains instinctively respond to the alerts our phones send us that signal incoming messages or social media updates, making it harder to resist the urge to use your smartphone while driving (Teensafe 2018). The dangers of texting while driving leads to 1.6 million crashes each year. It is very dangerous but people still continue to do it everyday.

Drivers ignore warnings and laws to stop using their phones while on the road. A big reason is that they're simply not persuaded that nothing can happen to them. Many articles and stories have been shared with the world to help influence people to put their phones away while on the road. Approximately 660,000 drivers use their cell phones while driving during the day creating a large potential for crashes and fatalities (Teensafe 2018). Currently 47 states have passed a law that banned texting and driving. The purpose of having this law helps save lives but people still continue to do it. The interest for cell phones is developing each day. Anybody can purchase a cell phone at a reasonable cost. Many drivers still speak on phones and text while driving. Accordingly talking on the phone is just as dangerous as texting.

Ages 16-19 years old are three times more likely to be involved in an accident than any other age group. 11 teenagers die everyday as a result of texting and driving. Studies show that teenagers are particularly at risk for texting while driving and car crashes. Teens text five times more than adults on average (Teen led 2012).When an accident occurs as a result in texting and driving and someone is killed or injured criminal charges can be pressed against the driver. Also another consequence is that the driver can be ticketed or fined especially if texting and driving is banned in the state. In the state of Pennsylvania texting and driving is banned. The penalty for this offense in a $50 fine with additional court costs and other fees.

One day I hope texting and driving death rates can decrease. Many lives are lost over this distraction. It is heartbreaking that families lose their loved ones to texting and driving everyday. I read an article on ESPN called Mother Who Lost Son to Distracted Driving Urges Friends to Put Down Phones. A teenager named Gage Edwards passed away from a car accident. Gage's mother bought him an Iphone for a christmas present. She thought it would be a good idea because Gage had a busy schedule with football, baseball and work. On January 31st Gage had a makeup game, after his game he went to work. When he got off of work he was scheduled to pick up his girlfriend. He was texting while driving. He drove off the road and ran into trees. Gage passed away 2 days later. This story about Gage breaks my heart. It's so sad that a young life was lost due to texting and driving.

Phone companies have started to take action. Many phone companies have been dragged into lawsuits from customers blaming them for the accidents because its their product involved in the accident. There have been numerous reasons to stop texting while driving across the nation. One of them is AT&T's "It Can Pause" battle, requesting that drivers promise not to drive occupied. An AT&T contemplate uncovered that most phone clients cooperate with a normal of five individuals every day on their cell phone. 81% of individuals examined said they have stopped doing it as much or quit using their cell phone while driving (Teensafe 2018).

Apple released an IOS update which has a new feature Do Not Disturb While Driving. This feature is an optional feature you can turn on in your phone. It is able to tell when your driving. When this feature is on while driving your messages and phone calls you receive will be put on disturb. Any notifications you receive you will not be alerted. Also this feature has a parent feature mood which parents are able to control their driving teenagers phones.

Texting and driving is a big problem in society today causing American death rates to rise. Many teens and adults have developed a habit of using their phones while driving. It is one of the most dangerous things to do while on the road. We are all guilty of texting while driving at one point. It is not worth it. Your life is at risk and so are the people's lives who are around you. This simple distraction is causing innocent lives to be taken everyday."

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