Just driving ten minutes away, I spotted a large number of drivers talking or texting on the phone. Even though people are aware of fines, technology has become a dominate part of our lives. The smartphone can alert traffic, accidents, and weather while driving, which can be beneficial. Many people rely on the smartphone to texting since it is faster than phone calling, cheaper, and it is a discrete form of contact. Texting is the number one driver distraction.
It is without a doubt that this technologically advanced generation cannot do without texting. A 2007 survey of about 1000 teens demonstrated that 46 % text while drive. According to Don't Drive and Text, texting while driving compares to drunk driving when it comes to distractions on the road. A person's driving ability is impaired because there is loss of concentration, are more likely to swerve, decreased reaction times, and it is even risker under the influence of alcohol of drugs. More astounding statistics include that texting while driving accounts for 2,600 vehicle fatalities and 300,000 collisions annually. Texting while driving is about 6 times more likely to result in an accident than driving while intoxicated. More suprising, for every 6 seconds of drive time, a driver sending or receiving a text messages spends 4.6 of those seconds with their eyes off the road (Texas: Cell phone laws, legislation).
Texas needs to have stricter cell phone laws. States such as New York and California have strict laws that ban hand held cell phone use and texting by all drivers. If compared with New York's 2010 accident rates are tiny compared to Texas' cell phone accident rates. In 2010, 46 people died from cellphone-related crashed and 3,400 accidents were caused by cell phone use. Currently, Texas has lenient laws when it comes to cell phone use. Current laws include:
- Drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from using wireless communications devices.
- Learners permit holders are prohibited from using handheld cell phones in the first six months of driving.
- School bus operators prohibited from using cell phone while driving if children are present.
- Drivers prohibited from using handheld devices in school crossing zones.
Also, with state cell phone laws, there is funding opportunities. For example, in New York, each cell phone results in a $150 fine and in California, the base fine for a first offense is $20. These fines add up and can be used for funding for states' needs.
This documentary was sent out by our coach and makes you wonder... was that last call/text worth your life?
Recently, I just came back from a trip to the beach and driving on the highway was scary because most of the other drivers were talking or texting on their phones. They were not paying attention to the road or other drivers and I felt endangered by them.
ReplyDeleteTechnology has become integrated into our lifestyles and it has come to the point where some people cannot put the phone down and focus on driving. I agree with you that the laws need to become more strict when it comes to texting and driving. There does not need to be any accidents because a driver was carelessly fumbling with their phone. But why not expand the law to people walking while texting when crossing the street? People can just be as careless when they are walking while texting. They bump into other people and don't pay attention to their surroundings. Those people are just as liable as the people texting while driving. But for now, Texas needs to be more even more serious when it comes to texting and driving.