Ban Cell Phones While Driving: A Necessity Nationwide - Essay Sample

Introduction

Use of cell phones while driving should be banned nationwide and must become mandatory, as its effects have detrimental ramifications for drivers as well as the road infrastructure. I support this movement to ban phones while driving as it has detrimental repercussions for both those using them and for the roads themselves. Twenty-one states in the country have already proscribed the usage of phones while driving, but some states have not considered doing it yet. I think they should adopt the same policy and ban the usage of cell phones. Research has established that using handsets while driving increases the risk of accidents. When drivers stop using phones while driving, they will be better able to focus on the road ahead and avoid accidents altogether. This paper will look into why using handsets while driving should be prohibited and what its effects might be.

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Dangers of Cell Phone Use While Driving

When using a cell, a driver is distracted, and it is hard for him or her to concentrate on the road studies show that usage of phones while driving is as dangerous as drunk driving, and the danger of causing an accident while using the phones is four times higher. According to the National Safety Council reports that usage of phones while driving leads to about 1.6 million clangs annually (Farmer, Braitman, & Lund, 2010). That number is a very high number of crashes that occur while using the cell phone.

According to the CDC report, there are about nine people murdered and more than 1,000 injured daily (Braitman, & McCartt, 2010). According to a statement given by NHTSA, it stated that around 31, 666 people were killed by distracted drivers (Farmer, Braitman, & Lund, 2010). Some drivers receive phone calls, which make them pervasive, and they are unable to concentrate on the road. When their mood changes, it is the same as they have been intoxicated with alcohol and the risks of causing accidents increases because they cannot focus entirely on the roads due to the news they have received.

So you don't have to have the cell phone up to your ear while driving. Also, don't pick it up, wait till you get home when you can talk without causing any accidents or facilities. The choice you make when getting behind the wheel is a very responsible behavior on your part, and you have to make the right decision because you are not the only person driving on the highway.

Raising Awareness and Responsible Behavior:

According to the NHTSA, during daytime hours across America, almost 481,000 motorists use phones while driving (Farmer, Braitman, & Lund, 2010). Young drivers are the ones who are much distracted and cause fatal crashes (Farmer, Braitman, & Lund, 2010). Drivers aged 16-24 years are the ones who mostly use phones while driving (Farmer, Braitman, & Lund, 2010). Assuming you're on your way to school or the office in the morning, using your cell phone while driving might be necessary to call an office if you're running late; or for teenagers on their way to class - calling friends to chat might also come into play here.

Simply wait until you get to the office or pull over to inform them of your lateness, telling your teen friend not to contact him until you arrive at school. Just remember, 481,000 drivers are using the phone in the morning time, that is when it is a busy time, kids are going to school, and people are going to work (Braitman & McCartt, 2010). If not paying attention, crashes can occur, or facilities wait till you get to your destination before picking up the phone while driving. Teens are the ones who are mostly distracted, according to the National Occupant Protection (Braitman, & McCartt, 2010).

Parents, grandparents, and peers are reasonable for letting the new drivers that chatting on the phone while driving is a no. Teens should be advised on the dangers of using phones while driving, such as crashes, insurance increases, deaths, and losing your license. Parents are advised that they not call their teens while you know that they might be driving at the time you are calling. Remember, you're the adult talk to your teenagers about talking on the handset while driving. As adults make sure, you do the same while going to your destination in the morning, put the phone down until you arrive.

The Case for Nationwide Prohibition

I strongly approve that cell phones should be barred nationwide while driving. Also, the use of hands-free instruments such as Bluetooth earphones, to make or receive phone calls is not safe because the driver while still try to concentrate on what they are talking about with the other person at the end of the line and the news they will receive might make the drivers pervasive. Studies show that 6 % of crashes are caused by cell phone usage, and that equates to 2,600 deaths, 636,000 crashes, and 12,000 fatal injuries each year (Braitman, & McCartt, 2010).

Conclusion

When you receive a phone call while driving, you should find a spot where you can park your car and receive the phone call. This will enable to reduce the risks of causing accidents. Also, teens should avoid using phones while driving because they are easily distracted, and they have enough experience on the roads, and this might lead to more accidents. Teens should also learn to control their emotions because some news received on the phones is shocking, and this might make them lose concentration on the roads and end up causing accidents. To reduce these types of crashes, you should leave your car at the parking spot and call a cab to take you to your destination.

References

Braitman, K. A., & McCartt, A. T. (2010). National reported patterns of driver cell phone use in the United States. Traffic injury prevention, 11(6), 543-548. Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15389588.2010.504247

Farmer, C. M., Braitman, K. A., & Lund, A. K. (2010). Cell phone use while driving and attributable crash risk. Traffic injury prevention, 11(5), 466-470. Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15389588.2010.494191