Driving and Texting

III. Thesis Statement

A. Drivers are affected when texting and driving because it’s distracting, causes injuries and can kill you or someone else.

B. In today’s lifestyle, text messaging is a main form of communication. Most people who own a cell phone revel in the wonders of text messaging: it’s fast and it’s easy. We impulsively respond to that buzz of our phones and often tune out our surroundings. Unfortunately, an overwhelming amount of drivers don’t hesitate to both read and respond to test messages while driving. Recently, many states have taken action and banned the act of text messaging while driving. Other states feel that more evidence is required in order to outlaw such a common act. Despite the existing texting laws, it is difficult to see the effects of this legislation. How dangerous is text messaging? Should more states be passing laws to ban it, or do they have little effect on drivers? This is a hot topic in the news today, and studies are still taking place in order to present more evidence. However, existing research poses that text messaging is comparable to or even more dangerous than driving under the influence of alcohol.

V. Research
A. Introductory Paragraph 1. Texting while driving is now one of the most popular distractions that takes a driver’s eyes off the road. Imagine that someone in your family like your mom, brother, sister or father were injured or killed by a driver who was sending a text message. Would that text have been worth losing someone you love? Texting while driving is too distracting and can injure or even kill people. Over 10,000 injuries nationwide due to texting while driving have been reported between 2007-2009. The effects of car accidents can be devastating. If crashes don’t result in death, catastrophic injuries, including brain injuries, paralysis and severe burns are possible (Bruno, 2007).
B. Research Findings 1. Texting while driving is too distracting and highly dangerous. Even though most people understand the possible consequences of doing so, many still choose to text and drive. When a driver texts while driving, his reaction time will decrease by 35% and steering capability goes down by a tremendous amount of 91%. A driver is twenty three times more likely to get into a car accident while driving and texting (Hanowski, 2009). Drivers who text are distracting themselves and making the road a dangerous place to be. They may seriously injure or even kill many people. When a driver texts while driving, his reaction time will decrease by 35% and steering capability goes down by a tremendous amount; 91% (Hanowski, 2009). A driver is twenty three times more likely not get into a car accident while driving and texting. On September 30, 2009, President Obama issued an executive order prohibiting federal employees from texting while driving on government business or with government equipment. 2. Texting while driving injures people, according to AAA, 15,000 people were injured in various car crashes in the United States due to texting. Around 28 percent of all crashes in 2008 were caused by drivers in the age group of 18 and 29, who admitted to texting while driving. Sending or receiving a text takes a driver 's eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent-at 55 mph-of driving the length of an entire football field, blind. This causes a driver to crash 23x the normal rate. Over 10,000 injuries nationwide due to texting while driving have been reported between 2008-2011 (AAA, 2011). Studies show that texting while driving increases your chances of crashing by 20 times. In fact, texting and other distracted driving account for nearly 80% of all automobile accident (Schulte, B., 2010). The effects of car accidents can be devastating. Crashes may results in death and catastrophic injuries, including brain injuries, paralysis and severe burns (Habuda, (2009). 3. Texting while driving can kill people. In 2009, 5,474 people in the United States were killed due to texting while driving. This number is an increase to the 3,210 people that were killed in 2007. Teenagers are the most common age group that die because of texting (45% of accidents resulted in death) (State Cell Phone Driving Laws, 2009). In addition, The AAA foundation recent survey showed that 82% of teens report texting while driving, while only 23% admit to drinking and driving.

VI. Conclusion page A. Drivers are affected when texting and driving because it’s distracting, causes injuries and can kill you or someone else. In conclusion, texting while driving is a very serious matter in America and is killing and injuring people every day. I encourage you all to think about the dangers of texting and driving when you start to drive. I also hope that you will tell anyone that is driving you not to text and drive. It is okay to tell them to stop texting while driving in order to ensure your safety. Imagine the guilt you or someone you know would have for the rest of your lives killing or seriously injuring someone because of a simple text message.

VIII. Bibliography AAA Pushes to Ban Texting While Driving. (2011). Automotive Fleet. Retrieved from http://www.automotive-fleet.com/News/Story/2011/09/AAA-Pushes-to-Ban-Texting-While-Driving-in-All-50-States.aspx

Bruno, L. (2007). Stop text messaging, drivers urged. USA Today. Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-06-11-dwt_N.htm

Habuda, J.L, (2009). Texting while driving is deadly. Buffalo News. Retrieved from http://www.allbusiness.com/government/government-bodies-offices-legislative/12417793-1.html Hanowski, R. (2009). New Data from VTTI Provides Insight into Cell Phone Use and Driving Distribution. Virginia Tech Transportation Institute: Driving Transportation with Technology. Retrieved from http://www.vtti.vt.edu/PDF/7-22-09-VTTI-Press_Release_Cell_phones_and_Driver_Distraction.pdf

Howie, C. (2007). Texting While Driving. AOL Autos. Retrieved from http://autos.aol.com/article/texting-while-driving Richtel, M. (2009). Utah Gets Tough with Texting Drivers. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.saferoads.org/utah-gets-tough-texting-drivers Schulte, B. (2010). Outlawing Text Messaging While Driving Legislators In Several States Respond To Safety Concerns. U.S. & World Report. Retrieved from http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/national/2010/02/11/outlawing-text-messaging-while-driving.html Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. State Cell Phone Driving Laws. http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html (2009). Governors Highways Safety Association. Retrieved from

Bibliography: AAA Pushes to Ban Texting While Driving. (2011). Automotive Fleet.    Habuda, J.L, (2009) Hanowski, R. (2009). New Data from VTTI Provides Insight into Cell Phone Use and Driving Distribution Richtel, M. (2009). Utah Gets Tough with Texting Drivers. The New York Times Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. State Cell Phone Driving Laws. http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html (2009). Governors Highways Safety Association. Retrieved from