Technology is becoming more advanced, day by day in modern society. With this constant growth of technology comes new trends such as texting and emailing, and apps like Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and other social media that users check every day. Drivers, nowadays are starting to lose attention of the road and are more focused on their phones to reply to whatever message that awaits them. It seems anyone who is constantly on their mobile phone, is making it their main priority, rather than paying attention to what is in front of them on the road. The constant, nonstop notifications users receive are only increasing as new apps are being invented. It is these flashing, buzzing, visible notification that cause growing distractions to drivers. Although it is convenient to be able to see what is going on by tapping a few buttons on your phone, there are certain times and places where checking notifications is appropriate. While driving a car is not one of them. The occurrence of texting and driving and using social media has taken over the social interaction. Over the past decade, it has become a trend that is constantly troubling society. The problem is people do not fight the urge to instantly check their phones whenever it rings or vibrates. This is an issue that needs to be addressed to make sure our society a safer place to live life in. There are several different steps that drivers can follow, to take care of this growing problem that is becoming a daily occurrence.

The first step in stopping the constant act of texting and driving is simply recognizing that it is not safe and that it is a major problem. People do not see texting and driving as a crime, rather an efficient way to respond to whomever sent them a message. Humans of all ages are seen on their phones, while behind the wheel because they do not feel they are breaking the law. People need to take a step back and realize that they are not only putting their own life in jeopardy, but also the lives of other drivers around them. The lack of recognition of the issue allows it to grow into a seriously dangerous problem Some interesting facts were published in the article titled, “Texting and Driving Is an Even Bigger Problem Than We Realized”, that examined the statistics how many people are actually aware of the issue, but just simply ignore it. A telephone survey of 1,004 U.S. adults was designed by a man named David Greenfield. Greenfield is the founder of The Center for Internet and Technology Addiction and also a professor at the University of Connecticut’s School of Medicine. “In a new survey, 98 percent of motorists who own cellphones and text regularly said they were aware of the dangers, yet three-quarters of them admitted to texting while driving, despite laws against it in some states” (Ortutay). The survey discovered that forty-three percent of drivers who text claim that they do it to stay connected to friends, family, and work. Drivers from ages 16 to 65 who drive almost every day, more than likely send at least one text message a day while driving. Younger people, such as teens, are more likely to be using their phone because the world today is all about technology and teens do not know what life is like without a smartphone. People realize they are breaking the law, but they would rather be selfish and put other lives in danger by allowing their phone to take all their attention. “Twenty-eight percent said they are worried about missing out of something important if they don’t check their phones right away” (Ortutay). People feel anxious and think it is a necessity to check their cell phone right away when they receive a message because people have become so addicted to technology in today’s world. This lack of attention causes drivers to miss important signs on the road or even zoom through a red light, resulting in a serious tragedy. Humans use about 15-20 portions of the brain to drive a vehicle, so when you multitask and try to use your phone, it causes some of those portions of the brain to not be used properly (Kiesbye). Greenfield refers to smartphones as “the world’s smallest slot machines” because they affect the human brain in similar ways as gambling and drugs. His research shows that the dopamine levels in your brain increase as you respond to a message because of the satisfaction and happiness it brings. Since people are so in love with their cell phone, Greenfield believes that education on this issue will not make a difference and people will most likely not put a stop to this behavior (Ortutay). This is a frightening claim for the future of road travel. Another source provides data from a survey of 904 drivers from people of ages eighteen to thirty-four and also older adults from ages thirty-five to fifty-four (Bowerman). Seventeen percent of the younger group admitted to sending messages or emails, whereas only seven percent of the older group admitted to doing so. Just as the previous article showed, millennials are more likely to be distracted by their phones while behind the wheel. Millennials are dying or either severely injuring themselves every day due to their cell phone. At the beginning of the article, “Texting while driving kills, but will we stop?”, a strong point was made by retelling a depressing story about a 17-year-old girl, named Sydnee Williams, who was killed in a tragic car crash on an Ohio highway. The cause of her death was texting while she was driving. Her father, Brock Dietrich speaks about his daughter’s death and claims he feels somewhat responsible because he admitted to texting while driving when she was in the car with him. Dietrich expresses his sorrows and feelings on his daughter’s death, which led him to start working with Impact Teen Drivers, a national advocacy group that helps raise awareness about the negative outcomes of texting and driving. Dietrich says, “If you continue to text and drive, it’s just a matter of time before it catches up to you and the consequences are devastating” (Bowerman). The two surveys in the articles mention eye opening statistics that are consistent and fact based. The articles acknowledge that almost everyone today text and drive even after all the deaths and injuries that it has caused. Although it is easier said than done, the best way to avoid your cell phone while driving is to turn it off and keep it out of sight. Society just needs to learn that there is no safe way to text and drive.

Most Americans are now aware of the dangers of drinking and driving, but have yet to see texting and driving in the same way. However, this is far from the truth. According to a 2014 Harrison Poll, 45 percent of Americans admitted to reading text, while 37 percent admitted to sending text messages while driving. These numbers are sadly more than drivers who admitted to drinking and driving, coming in at 37 percent. Approximately 660,000 drivers use their cell phone while driving (Ramasubbu). Texting impairs human brain in the same way as alcohol consumption and is equivalent to driving after drinking 4 beers. People who text while driving have a 23 percent higher chance of getting a wreck. Texting delays reaction by 37 percent, while alcohol alters time by just 13 percent (Ramasubbu). Texting and driving seems to be the biggest concern according to the book Cell Phones and Driving, written by Stefan Kiesbye. The book states, “Studies have shown that drivers-especially teenagers- who talk or text while operating a vehicle are as distracted and impaired as drunk drivers. Any use of mobile phones in cars is hazardous, but texting produces an effect equivalent to high blood-alcohol levels” (Kiesbye). There is a greater chance of a driver, who is constantly tapping their phones, to drift into another lane and put other drivers in danger, rather than a drunk driver. In the introduction of the book, it says “According to a 2008 NHTSA study, more than 800,000 drivers are using handheld devices at any one moment throughout the day. The NHTSA also notes that nearly 6,000 people a year are killed in accidents related to cell phone use while driving” (Kiesbye). This book was published in 2011, which means the number of deaths has most likely increased due to new apps and technology evolving. The fact that texting and driving is more dangerous than someone being intoxicated behind the wheel is slightly frightening because it is more common to see someone on their cell phone while driving. Researchers have claimed that teenagers have a better reaction time, compared to adults, but regardless, no one can constantly pull of this stunt over and over again. One message is not worth putting your life in danger or the lives of other people around you. Imagine the horror of taking someone’s life over a simple text message. Living with the annoyance of waiting to read or send one message does not begin to compare with a knowledge that would be a lifelong burden.

Considering the growing concern and the severity of distracted driving it seems as though the government would set a strict set of national laws to regulate the situation. Currently only 46 states in America have passed laws that impose a penalty to drivers caught on their phones, texting, while operating a vehicle. Most states today, have a total text messaging ban. These bans allow police officers to pull over drivers suspected of texting while driving and give them a citation. As of March 2017, Arizona and Montana are the only states with no ban at all (Distracted Driving). Texas has a law that only bans drivers under the age of 18 from texting while driving and in Missouri, the age for a citation is 21 and under (Distracted Driving). The issue with these laws is that it is very difficult for police officers to catch a driver in the act of physically texting on their phone. Only 14 states today have a total cell phone ban. Complete ban of cell phone use may be somewhat harsh, but there should certainly be a nationwide law that fines the type of drivers who are constantly on their cell phones, due to fact that it is flat out dangerous to not only the driver on their phone but also the drivers around them. Regardless of the type of ban, or the difficulty in catching and citing offenders, the main issue is that the laws alter from state to state. For example, in New Mexico in 2014, the penalty for a driver’s first offense is a twenty-five dollar fine and the second offense is a fifty dollar fine (Slone). Because many drivers may not feel punished by a small fine such as 25 or 50 dollars, they accept the fine and will most likely continue to break the law and endanger others with their texting and driving. Most states in the U.S. are taking the steps to decrease the growing problem, but the government crucially needs a basic set of standard laws that all states must obey to put a stop to texting and driving. Every state needs to develop a campaign and put up signs and billboards in an attempt to let drivers know the consequences of this dangerous behavior, otherwise the live of every driver will continue to be at risk from texting offenders. As the problem continues, hopefully in the next few years it will become a nationwide law, that you cannot be on your phone and this country won’t have to suffer from it anymore.

Texting while driving has inspired a huge debate today in our society. If you turn on the television and watch the news, there are painful stories about drivers who have lost their life and of those who have taken someone else’s life because they decided to take their attention off the road and use their cell phone. There are commercials that show gruesome events to try shock and prevent drivers from making a grave mistake. While some people see texting while driving as a necessary action, it has too many downsides and dangers to it. The natural habit of instantly checking a message from a friend or family member is a habit that everyone needs to break. Modern society is one of immediate gratification, instant food, and quick fix. These factors create a mindset that makes it hard for people to wait. When it comes down to reality and all the layers of behaviors are torn away, cell phones are reduced to an unnecessary distraction that can easily be avoided. A driver’s main priority should be to keep their eyes on the road and reach their destination safely without endangering themselves or others (Pros and Cons of Texting While Driving). Even though it may be a hard habit to break, all drivers need to make it their personal responsibility to put down their phones when driving. 

Family members that have lost a loved one to this tragedy not only have to live with the fact that they lost someone they dearly love, but also that it was a loss that could have been prevented if only someone had been willing to wait for a stupid text message. Some families have come together to prevent these types of accidents in the future and have created an anti-distracted driving group to let others know how it has impacted their lives and what they have to live with on a daily basis. Families have created a Facebook account called Families Against Texting While Driving, that spreads awareness to stay away from this haunting habit (Facebook). An emotional video that can be found on YouTube has a brief video that shows a woman being distracted by her cell phone which leads to her hitting a little girl riding a scooter (Braun). After watching it and seeing the poor, innocent, little girl’s blood all over the street, the viewer is left with a feeling of sadness and depression. The video intends to show the viewers that in a matter of a couple seconds, lives can be changed forever. Although this event did not actually happen (the video is real, but it portrays a fictional event), its purpose is to show how it is completely not worth the risk, and is certainly not safe, to not only you, but others around you. Whether or not texting and driving has touched your life personally, watching them leaves a lasting effect of depression and despair. Knowing first-hand the eerie feeling of having family members speak of a loved one lost in a tragedy, this writer feels compelled to help others avoid tragedies with lifelong consequence such as texting and driving. Families that are affected by texting and driving are no different from anyone else’s, they just had terrible luck of crossing paths with someone making a poor decision, and the scariest thing is it can happen to anyone. 

Researching this trending topic has made me personally realize and rethink how I drive on an everyday basis. It has forced me to think twice and make better choices when I feel like looking down at my phone and hopefully this information will teach and convince others to do the same. With new laws being enforced and more people finally recognizing the true dangers of texting and driving, people will hopefully put a stop to this problem. If my hope becomes reality, the number of injuries and fatal deaths will start to decrease instead of continuing to grow. This is a nationwide issue that can be tamed if people will just use their mind and think before they make the mistake of distracted driving.
