Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Weighing the Issue of Texting and Driving

Although I agree that texting while driving is a major issue on the road, banning all cell phone usage while driving is going a little bit overboard in my opinion. Yes, it may lower road accidents and fatalities, but on the other hand, it just gives law enforcement more of a reason to pull people over, causing even more frustration and commotion.
Additionally, many people are not prepared to give up cell phone usage while driving, it will simply create a burden for people who are responsible enough to know when to use a phone while driving, especially in the event of an emergency call.
According to your statistic, "sending or receiving a text takes a driver's eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds." That right there shows that some people (mostly teenagers) cannot drive safely in the first place, and phone use makes them even worse drivers. Really, you shouldn't take your eyes off the road for two or three seconds at the most, and it must be reminded to notorious road texters frequently. Better technology may also be a solution. Advanced hands-free systems may prevent distracted driver tendencies.
In conclusion, there are already pretty strict laws in place targeting cell phone use while driving, risking hefty fines and punishment. Additionally, one can be charged with a high-degree manslaughter charge in the event of a traffic fatality.

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