Texting & Driving

Many of you may think to yourself: This paper

doesnt apply to me. or Its okay, because I only
text and drive sometimes. Youre wrong. No
matter how little you do it, or how careful you are,
it only takes one time of glancing down to type
out that text that was so important it cost you
your life, or worse...someone else's. This act,
while it may seem innocent while youre participating in it, puts yourself and other
drivers around you at risk due to your lack of concentration on the road and what is
going on around you. Not only does texting and driving lower the driver's situational
awareness, it also increases the brake reaction time of drivers as shown in Staying
Connected on the Road: A Comparison of Different Types of Smart Phone Use in a
Driving Simulator. Even when the test subjects knew that they were being examined,
they still experienced a significant increase in the time that it took them to react to a
situation that required that they use their brakes. It can only be expected that when the
subjects are not aware that they are being tested or examined that the numbers would
increase in regards to increased brake time since they are not in a testing situation and
therefore arent being as cautious. Another place that situational awareness is important
is at stop-lights. A couple weeks ago I was at a stop light and the person in front of me
was obviously texting while driving. The light turned green, and we sat there, for about 5
seconds before I decided to honk my horn. Startled, the woman floored-it and
continued to finish her text while trying to stay in her lane. This is not a one time
occurrence but nearly a weekly, if not daily event that I find myself a part of. It was
found in a study done by Bernstine that at least 14.5% of drivers at every stop light were
texting on a cell-phone. Not only is this a nuisance to anyone who wants to get where
they are going while driving quickly and efficiently, but it also poses a lack of awareness
to changing surroundings, such as an ambulance or fire truck passing through, or at
least trying to.
Let's look at some facts about texting and
driving. The probability of a car accident involving a
cell phone or cell phone use is 1 and 4. The number
of motor vehicle crashes that involved a cell phone
in 2013 was 341,000. The safest amount of time to
have your eyes off of the road while driving is 2
seconds, the average time it takes to send or read a
text is 5 seconds. One area that seems to be a
misconception is that only teenagers text and drive.

33% of drivers between the ages of 18 - 65 admitted to either sending or reading texts
while in motion in a vehicle. That being said, the most likely age group to participate in
texting and driving is 21 - 24 year olds. For you fact checkers, all these facts are from
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/08/dangers-of-texting-and-driving-statistics_n_7
537710.html for your convience. Apart from all the facts and statistical information about
it, texting and driving is also illegal. For obvious reasons and fines can range up to
$10,000 some places in the United States and can also include jail time. Is it really
worth it? Youre not special, youre not above the law, and if you text and drive you will
pay the price, one way or another.
An example of someone who has and is still paying the price for texting and driving
is Liz Marks. Liz Marks was a young woman who was involved in an accident while
texting and driving, not only did the accident take away many things that she enjoyed
doing such as modeling, it took away her entire life. The friends that she thought would
stand beside her left her because of the way she looked and she was left alone to suffer
for the choice that she made to text and drive. A teenager with her whole life in front of
her, a life with so much potential, was dealt a devastating blow due to her newly
acquired deformities. Whether we like to admit it or not, a lot of people's perception of
us is based on our looks/attractiveness, and most people's initial reaction when they see
people with horrendous deformities is distaste and uncomfortability. This is something
Liz Marks now deals with on a daily basis because she made the decision to pick up her
phone that she loved so much and was distracted while driving a two ton metal death
machine. Whether it's trying to find work, companionship, or even just trying to go out
and buy a snack, the looks and discrimination that she now faces is an overwhelming
mountain that she now faces. But she dug this grave for herself. The devastation to her
looks isnt the only consequence either. She also is blind in one eye, she has no sense
of smell, she cannot hear very well (due to a bone breaking in half and rupturing her
ear-drum), she cannot produce tears, and she cannot fall asleep naturally. Her life was
radically changed, and if you are not careful, yours could be too. Some of you may be
asking: Why? Why did she check that text in the first place? and it boils down to the
fact that she thought it was okay because everyone was doing it, and even more
importantly, she thought she was invincible. She, just like you, thought that she was a
skillful enough driver to be distracted behind the wheel, clearly she was wrong. She, just
like you, thought Oh, that would never happen to me? she was wrong about that too.
No one is immune, no one is a special case, even yourself. Take into strong
consideration the fact that you might be doing the same thing she did before her life was
abruptly changed by an action that was taken lightly, that should never be taken lightly.
In theory, there is no factual or justifiable reason to put your life and the lives of
others at risk by texting and driving. So why do we do it? Why do we think that we have
the right, or that we are so special that we would never have to pay the consequences

for an action that is entirely irresponsible? Some people say that in emergencies it's an
okay thing to do. It's true that emergencies hardly happen at convenient times but you
always have the option that if one happens while you are driving, to pull over and
text/call the person back. Just because you are okay jeopardizing your life doesnt mean
that you have the right to make that choice for other drivers on the road that are
following the laws and acting as decent citizens. Have some respect for other human
beings that have lives and thoughts just as complex as your own around you. They
have families that would be devastated if something happened to them from you being
impatient scum of the world. Think about the other people around you and quit being
selfish.
In no way am I putting myself on a pedestal above anyone else, I myself have
been guilty of texting and driving as well. The difference is that once I was present with
the facts, I quit. Once I realized the consequences and that it didnt just affect me, I quit.
This starts with the decision of each individual, that decides to take a stand and to
exemplify some self-control and patience in a society that is very lacking in both these
things. The change starts with you. So that is my challenge extended to you today. To
better our society and to help save lives. To keep mothers, fathers, brothers, and
sisters, eyes dry, and their hearts unbroken. To make the change in yourself, and to
become more self aware and sensitive to the fact that you are no exception to the laws
of physics and time. So there you have it, drive safe, quit running red/pink lights, and
quit being assholes that text and drive.

Works Cited
Bernstine, James J. "Texting at the Light and Other Forms of Device Distraction behind the
Wheel." N.p., 26 Sept. 2015. Web. 17 Oct. 2016.
<http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.libprox1.slcc.edu/eds/detail/detail?vid=3&sid=028b6e68-b6e1-4884
-bd9b-2adcf2c5d05c%40sessionmgr4010&hid=4110&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#
AN=109989220&db=ccm>.
McNabb, Jaimie. "Staying Connected on the Road: A Comparison of Different Types of Smart
Phone Use in a Driving Simulator." N.p., 17 Feb. 2016. Web. 17 Oct. 2016.
<http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.libprox1.slcc.edu/eds/detail/detail?vid=1&sid=028b6e68-b6e1-4884
-bd9b-2adcf2c5d05c%40sessionmgr4010&hid=4110&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#
AN=113065122&db=aph>.
Schumaker, Erin. "10 Statistics That Capture The Dangers of Texting and Driving." T
he
Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2016.
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/08/dangers-of-texting-and-driving-statistics_n_753771
0.html>.
Liz Marks Texting & Driving Story. Perf. Liz Marks. N.p., n.d. Web.
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7911kgJJZc>.
Published: 04/17/2013 - by Peter Gareffa, Correspondent. "Texting-While-Driving Penalties
Vary From $20 to $10,000, Study Says | Edmunds.com." Edmunds. N.p., 17 Apr. 2013. Web. 21
Oct. 2016.
<http://www.edmunds.com/car-news/texting-while-driving-penalties-vary-from-20-to-10000-stud
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