A Text Could Wreck It All

“ A Text Could Wreck It All”

As technology advanced, it has become such a huge part of our life. In this past year, the use of cell phone and other handheld devices have increased greatly. However, along with that number, the amount of distracted driving has also increased. Distracted driving is when a driver uses their cell phone while driving, whether they are texting, calling, or scrolling through social media. This is a dangerous habit that not only put the driver’s at risk, but also passengers in their car and other drivers on the road.

Distracted driving is an activity that can take the driver’s eyes off the road and divert their attention to their electronic devices. Many people might think that they have the ability to multitask, but according to the AAA foundation “... distraction “latency” lasts an average twenty seven seconds, meaning that even after drivers put down the phone or stop fiddling with the navigation system, drivers aren’t fully engaged with the driving task.”. This proves that our attention span is shorter than we thought. Just checking a text message will take our focus off the road and concentrate on the phone in that span of time causing road accidents. “ Federal estimates suggest that distraction contributes to sixteen percent of all fatal crashes lead to around five thousands death every year. Texting and driving are becoming more and more dangerous each year.

When it comes to who are involved in texting and driving, teenagers are the first to come to mind. While many people assume that it’s only teenagers that drive recklessly, many adults does too. “Ten percent of all drivers 15 to 19 years old involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crashes”. But “ More than half (53%) of all adult cellphones owners have been on the giving or receiving end of a distracted walking encounter”. Teenagers can be thoughtless when it comes to their cell phones. Checking phones for text messages or notifications regularly has become a habit no matter where they are. However, being distracted not only involved with teenagers, but also adults who are the cause of the accidents or the victims of the accidents. About 48% of young drivers have seen their parents drive while talking on a cell phone, 15% of young drivers have seen their parents text and drive, 27% of adults have sent or received a text message while driving and 48% of kids aged 12-17 have been on a car where the driver was texting. This show how dangerous and influential distracted driving can be. Kids learned from their parents, so seeing their parents being distracted while driving they might think it's okay to do it when it's their turn to hit the road.While many people argue that texting and driving isn’t that bad, statistics say otherwise. In 2014, “ there were 520 non occupants killed in distraction- affected crashes”. Distracted driving not only affect