Contemporary generation has acknowledged cell phone use as crucial to everyday life. The statistics provided by the Pew Internet revealed that as much as 91% of American adults own a cell phone . Despite the obvious advantages and benefits of cellphone use, one of the dangers that has been directly accounted to it is being used while driving. With the continued increase in the number of casualties attributed to cell phone use while driving, one hereby asserts that cell phone use by all private and commercial drivers should ultimately be banned.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “at any given daylight moment across America, approximately 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices while driving, a number that has held steady since 2010”. There had been clear evidences linking distracted driving as the cause of fatal accidents causing injuries and death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has disclosed that in the year 2011, there were 3,331 people who died in fatal crashes allegedly involving distracted drivers; which was a 2% increase from the 3,267 people who were killed in 2010. Likewise, the number of injuries reported in 2011 which was attributed to distracted driving totaled 387,000 in 2011 .
The official website of the NHTSA actually defined distracted driving as any endeavor or
activity which could apparently divert the attention of the driver from his main focus or thrust,
which is driving . The activities which were identified included texting, the use of smartphones or cellphones, talking to other passengers, eating or drinking, using the navigation system, reading maps, grooming, and adjusting any accessories inside the vehicle. From among the listed activities, it was emphasized that texting is the most alarming or dangerous because it requires multifaceted skills: manual, visual, and cognitive skills that allegedly becomes most distracting .
The number of casualties: injuries and deaths are enough evidences of the dangers of cell phone use while driving. Not only are the drivers endangering themselves; but more importantly, they are imposing imminent risks to the lives of the passengers and even to bystanders who might be within their reach during potential accidents. Likewise, the accidents also cause the destruction of vehicles and properties; and pose delays and traffic in roads and thoroughfares where accidents occur. These accidents are therefore costs to society in terms of the need to repair destroyed infrastructures and the expenses incurred for attending to the health requirements of the injured and deaths associated to these.
Those who still support using cell phones while driving contend that there are benefits attributed to its use; including seeking assistance in emergency cases or providing crucial information to family members and friends on their current location, as required. Others also assert that they have been so proficient with using their cell phones that they could never be distracted even while driving.
Despite the apparent veracity of the counterarguments, the CDC has revealed that one of the measures undertaken by the federal government through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is to ban the use of cellphones to commercial drivers. One hereby asserts that the banning of cell phone use should encompass drivers of private vehicles. The negative effect and impact of using the cellphone while driving obviously surpasses any benefits accorded to it. Therefore, cell phone use should ultimately be banned to prevent the continued increase in casualties associated with distracted driving.
Works Cited
Brenner, Joanna. "Pew Internet: Mobile." 18 September 2013. pewinternet.org. http://pewinternet.org/Commentary/2012/February/Pew-Internet-Mobile.aspx. 3 December 2013.
CDC. "Distracted Driving." 23 May 2013. cdc.gov. http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/distracted_driving/. 3 December 2013.
NHTSA. "Key Facts and Statistics." n.d. distraction.gov. http://www.distraction.gov/content/get-the-facts/facts-and-statistics.html. 3 December 2013.
