The Danger Of Driving Distracted By Texting
One thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three, one thousand four, one thousand five, this is the minimal amount of time a driver’s attention is taken away from the road when texting and driving. Texting while driving has become one of the biggest problems in the United States over the past ten years. Though most people will argue that it does not affect them very much, texting and driving have very dangerous consequences that can change one’s life in just a split second. Almost every person subconsciously reaches for their phone and sends a text when texting and driving, and most people seem to think it has become okay to do. If they would take one second to look at the death rates for texting and driving, they would see how dangerous it truly is.
Texting while driving is a selfish and dangerous choice with deadly consequences; and this is why it should be banned. One of the many dangers of texting and driving is the attention that is taken away from the road. A driver, who is persistently checking their phone, is not paying any attention to other cars or what is happening around them. Something as simple as an animal running out in front of their car can cause serious damage to the vehicle, and an also cause the driver to swerve and potentially hit another car. Texting while driving is the act of composing, sending, or reading text messages, email, or making other similar use of the internet on a mobile device while operating a motor vehicle. Many people view this as a dangerous task, but the more familiar they are with the area, the more they will do it.
Most people have heard of the tragic stories of texting and driving, such as stories of people or families dying. Some stories may even be tragedies of kids and adults being physically or mentally damaged forever. Sadly, that doesn’t stop most people from using their phones while on the road. This is why Wilson states, In 2015, the most recent year for which there are U.S. Department of Transportation statistics, distracted driving crashes caused 3,500 fatalities and close to 400,000 injuries.
Even after all of this, most people still don’t believe that a piece of glass could be the cause of all of this. It has been determined that, when an individual is talking, dialing, or texting when they are in control of a moving vehicle it causes eighteen percent of all roadway crashes in 2010. A percentage rate of eighteen percent may seem low to some, but it is a statistic that shouldn’t exist if people would just stop using cell phones while driving. For some, holding their phone in their hand while driving is subconsciously drilled into their brain. When they do this every day, they begin to think that they are good at it. Yet in reality, they are only increasing their chances of death.
