The Effects of Distracted

Driving.

the side of how we have become so numb to

each other and more prone to conversing to
each other over our phones.

By: Rachel Hopkins

Recently, the AAA Foundation for Traffic

Safety estimated that distracted driving
contributes to 16% of all fatal crashes,

ENG101

Introduction
Driving distracted has many meanings. For
most people it is their mobile devices, but
for others it is the fiddling with the radio, or
even applying makeup. Whatever the
distraction may be, how has this become a
growing concern in the daily lives of every
family, friend, and coworker? How does it
affect everyone? Which type of distraction
causes more fatalities over another? What
age groups are more prone to causing
accidents by driving distracted? These are
just a few questions that will be discussed
throughout this report. Different types of
feedback and data will be touch on as well
as fieldwork done based on a survey by
peers.

Its taking over our lives. We can do it

almost anywhere- walking to class,
waiting in line at the grocery store, or
hanging out at home. Its quick, easy
and convenient. It has become a
concern of doctors, parents, and
teachers alike. What is it? Its texting!
Figure 1 Michaela Cullington (361)

leading to around 5,000 deaths every year.

AAA also focused on groups: teens were
among the most impaired by distractions.
Showing that they were distracted almost a
quarter of the time they were behind the
wheel, with electronic devices, such as
texting, emails, and downloading music
being the biggest distractions, accounting for
7% of the distractions identified in their
study.

Expert Opinions
How can distracted driving so wide spread
be monitored and controlled? This is only
just one of the many questions plaguing
many of the authorities and experts. The
amount of time and research they needed to
put into finding the answers and still need
must weigh heavy on them.
As Jenna Wortham states in one of her
articles If anything, the pervasiveness of
technology in my life has heightened my
desire for actual one-on-one meetings.
(396) Her conversations are more towards

The Harvard Medical School Commentaries

on Health has put in a lot of time into its
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The Effects of Distracted Driving

own studies and fieldwork. Fast Lane to

Disaster was their latest article in which
they spent a lot of their time and effort
collecting some very helpful and detailed
information. Each day, more than 16
Americans are killed and more than 1,300
are injured in car crashes that involve a
distracted driver. In 2008 alone, nearly
6,000 deaths and over 500,000 injuries
occurred, and the problem is only getting
worse every year. Overall, vehicular deaths
are declining, but the share of road deaths
caused by distracted driving has risen to
16%. Harvard Medical wanted to find out
who was driving while distracted. They
found out that about three-quarters are white
males; although no age group is immune,
young men are disproportionally likely to be
distracted drivers.
Nearly two-thirds are alone in the car
at the time of the crash. Funny thing is,
about 60% of crashes do not involve
another moving vehicle, and nearly 40%
occur on city roads.

Figure 2 AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

Most experts share the same views on this

subject. Some specialists have created a cell
phone texting program called txt2stop that
can help smokers break the tobacco habit.
Another one is and app that you can activate
and while you drive, you cannot activate it
until you reach your destination. For this is a
good thing because AAA found discovered
that distraction latency lasts an average of
27 seconds, meaning that even after drivers
put down their phones or stop what they are

doing they arent fully engaged with the

driving task.
Methods
In order to answer some of my questions, I
put together a 10 questions survey that I
distributed through Facebook as well as a
few of my peers here at NCC. (See
Appendix 1 for Survey questions).
I asked my participants to at least be 18
years of age and have a drivers license. My
purpose in my survey is to try to find out
how aware people are about distracted
driving.
My survey was up for 3 days and I collected
43 total responses in this time. I found that
six were between the ages of 18 and 24
(13.95%), seven were between the ages of
25 and 28 (16.28%), as well and 29-35 years
of age. Finally, the majority at twenty-three
(53.49) were 35 and older.
Results
The majority of my participants reported
that they are against texting and driving but
admit to doing it on occasion. In one of my
questions, I asked, When you are on your
mobile device while driving? I was
surprised on how many actually made the
effort to pull over to use their phones, which
was a total of 14 (32.56%) of the
participants. Most would use theirs at red

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The Effects of Distracted Driving

Discussion

Figure 3 Mobile Device while driving chart

light, 23 (53.49%). Then with the smallest

amount being the driving in the city at only
2 (4.65%). This question really stood out to
me for the simple fact that I thought that
pulled over on the side of the road and never
(15 = 34.88%) would be switched. (See
figure 3)
One of my other questions, I asked, What
motivates you to not use your mobile device
while driving? Some of the responses really
hit home. Some had first-hand experiences
or witnessed accidents that involved
distracted driving. Others were just overall
concerned with their family and friends.
With How many Apps would you say you
have on your mobile device, this question
showed me how controlling and addictive
technology can be. 15 (34.88%) said that
they had 11 or more apps on their mobile
devices. So of course, you have to think of
how others believe that they have to
constantly check whats new or I have to
post this now. It really makes people think
before they act. (See Appendix A for Survey
questions)

In general, the results of this study indicate

that the populous believe driving distracted
is a problem but still admits to doing it on
occasion. The fact of the matter is everyone
has their concerns and wants change but will
not put forth the effort it takes to make the
change happen. Because of the survey, I
had an older party response that was taken
advantage of. The results too were of likeminded with studies done by those of other
professionals, even though the majority of
other experts studies showed that the
younger populous had more of an effect on
the outcomes.
Conclusion
With the results of the survey motorist,
clearly do admit to using their mobile
devices while in the vehicle and did seem to
make a conscious effort to try to minimize
their time with the devices in the vehicles.
Many experts know how detrimental this is
to us all as whole, for the staggering yearly
fatality rate is somewhat shocking. The
choices people make are that of their own
but they do state their motives for why they
would not drive distracted. The research
done by all parties have brought a new light
to how much driving distracted can cost
everyone as a whole. Putting together on
how far everyone needs to see that things
may need to change.

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The Effects of Distracted Driving

About the author: Rachel is a full-time

college student at Norwalk community
College in Connecticut. She currently is
pursuing her license for Veterinary
Technician. Being involved in two motor
accidents involving distracted driving, along
with family members being involved as well,
she feels passionate to get as much
information out as needed.

References
"Distracted Driving." AAA Foundation
for Traffic Safety. N.p., n.d. Web. 17
Oct. 2016.
"Distracted Driving-Fast Lane to
Disaster." Harvard Medical School
Commentaries on Health, n.d. Web.
17 Oct. 2016.
Graff, Gerald. "I Had a Nice Time with
You Tonight. On the App." They Say, I
Say: With Readings. 3E ed. N.p.: n.p.,
2009. 393-98. Print.
Graff, Gerald. "Does Texting Affect
Writing." They Say, I Say: With
Readings. 3E ed. N.p.: n.p., 2009. 36172. Print.

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The Effects of Distracted Driving

(Appendix A)

__Twitter

Rachel Hopkins

__Instagram

This survey is for a college English class

and it is my purpose to get anonymous
answers from a small group of individuals
for a final paper at the end of the semester.
This small survey should take you
approximately 10 minutes or less.

__Tumbler

You may at any point in this survey not

answer any or all of these questions. This is
a completely voluntary survey.

Do social media and phones affect our

lives?

__Other (what is it) ______________

4. How often would you say you use Social

Media?
a)

Hourly

b)

Daily

c)

Weekly

d)

Biweekly

e)

Other (How often) ____________

1. What age group do you fall under?

a)

18-24

b)

25-28

c)

29-35

d)

35 and up

2. Do you use your phone while driving?

__Yes

5. How many Apps would you say you have

on your mobile device?
a)

0-2

b)

3-5

c)

6-8

d)

8-10

e)

11 or more

__No

3.What type of Social Media do you use the

most?
__Facebook

6. Select when you are on your mobile

device while driving
__Stop signs
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The Effects of Distracted Driving

__Red lights
__Driving in the city
__Driving on Highways
__Pulled over on the side of the road
__Never

7. 1 being the one you resonate with the

most and 5 being the least, what is the most
dangerous part about texting while driving?
__Endangering myself
__Endangering others
__Making a habit out of distracted

__ It is more dangerous to be
intoxicated while texting and driving
__ Laws should be more enforced
with higher penalties.
__1.3 Million accidents occur in the
US annually

9. If any, what motives do you have to

prevent you from being on your mobile
device while driving?
______________________________
____________________________________
_____

driving
__Not knowing whats going on
around you
__ I dont really care

______________________________
____________________________________
_____
______________________________
____________________________________
_____

8. Please indicate the degree to which you

agree or disagree with the statement below.
1-strongly agree
2-agree
3-not sure
4-disagree

Thank you for participating in the following

survey. If you have any questions or
thoughts, you may write on the back of this
survey. Please return this survey to Rachel
Hopkins or email it to her at
rhopkins2008@aol.com

9-strongly disagree
__Text messages can NOT wait.

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