About Amari
A senior at Austin High School, Amari enjoys art, music and baking, but above all, she is an animal lover. She will be attending college to pursue her dream of one day becoming a veterinarian.
Distracted Driving Essay
Texting is one of the most dangerous things to do while driving. You are taking your attention off of the roadway and wheel in front of you. Those that text and drive are not only endangering themselves, but others as well. As the daughter of an ALEA State Trooper, I hear that a lot. I hear and see the effects of texting while driving and it has led me to be terrified of doing so. I am very adamant on following the laws on the roadways and all of this led me to believe that distracted driving leads to danger and that steps should be taken to keep this from happening.
Texting and driving is a phenomenon that is dangerous to all people on the roadway, whether they are the one participating in it or not. It leads to fatalities and car crashes every year and the more dependent people are on their phones, the more likely it is to happen. According to Drive Safe Alabama, “A texting driver is 23 times more likely to get into a car-crash than a non texting driver.” When those people use their phone and take their awareness away from what’s in front of them, it is more likely for them to be clueless when they are driving into danger. A person should be completely focused on the roadway, otherwise it could lead to disaster. “Statistics suggest there are 400 deaths from texting and driving every year in the United States. Our car accident lawyers’ take? The real number is twice as high” (Miller and Zois Attorney at Law). Texting and driving leads to thousands of deaths every year. These deaths include those that took no part in texting and driving–they just had the misfortune of coming across someone that did. Distracted driving endangers those that do it, as well as those that don’t.
Texting and driving affects reaction and recovery time which is another of its dangers. Texting and driving not only takes one’s attention from the roadway, but also affects them when they finally look back in front of them just as drinking and driving would. In the few seconds it takes for these mental effects to wear off, a crash could easily happen. “Studies also show that using your phone to send a text while driving can have the same effect on your reaction time as drinking four beers before getting behind the wheel” (Forbes Advisor). Texting while driving is just as bad as drinking and driving. Their effects are similar and negatively affect one’s focus, which increases the amount of crashes and deaths related to distracted driving. To add-on, “Your recovery time on the road can also be affected by texting while driving. When you take your eyes off the road to use your phone, it can take up to 27 seconds for your eyes to recover and reorient to the road and for the mental distraction to end” (Forbes Advisor). This phenomenon is called the “hangover effect”. Texting and driving has effects on your mental state after doing it just as drinking and driving does. 27 seconds is more than enough time for a crash to happen. In fact, even 5 seconds is enough. “Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed” (NHTSA). In the little amount of time it takes to send a message, a fatal crash could happen. It would be very easy for a car-crash to happen in that time period and with one’s eyes not being trained on the roadway, it just makes it even easier.
The consequences of texting and driving can be stiff depending on the severity of the crash. Not only is it easy to get into a car-crash while texting and driving, but the consequences of it will have someone regret doing it at all. According to Forbes Advisor, “If you cause an accident while texting and driving–especially one that results in bodily injury or death–the penalties can be stiffer. In these cases, you may face loss of your license and even criminal charges and jail
time.” By texting while driving, one is showing negligence and carelessness for the safety of themselves and others. Because of this and their blatant disregard for the law, they could face jail-time and no one wants to be put in jail.
Texting while driving affects car insurance too according to Forbes Advisor. “If you’re caught texting and driving, that ticket or fine on your record can result in higher car insurance rates. And, depending on the circumstances in which you were caught, the rate increase could be substantial” (Forbes Advisor). Because of texting while driving, many people have to pay more. Car insurance rates increase because of texting while driving for those that participate in it, but not for those that don’t.
Texting while driving is a danger to everyone on the road. The phenomenon itself and the effects need to be taken more seriously by people that operate vehicles. There are laws put in place to reduce this and there are safer ways to send or read a text message while in a car without endangering those around you. A new law in Alabama was put into place in June to prevent texting while driving. “June 15th 2024 starts the enforcement period for a new Alabama state law regarding the operation of a vehicle while using an electronic device. ALDOT says drivers can only use a single button or swipe of finger to answer a call” (abc3340 News). This law was put into place to minimize phone use while operating a vehicle on the road and to prevent crashes and fatalities caused by distracted driving. One swipe or press of a button can be done while still focusing on the road, but anything more than that is grounds for a fine. ALEA Trooper Brandon Bailey had also mentioned ways to prevent crashes caused by texting while driving, “‘…if you have to send or read a text, you have to manipulate your phone where it’s gonna divert your attention away from the roadway. Pull off before you choose to do so unless you have and emergency phone call…’” (Brandon Bailey, WHNT News). If you pull onto the side of the road before sending or reading a text, no one’s life will be at risk. To prevent crashes and deaths
because of distracted driving, get off of the road before checking a message instead of endangering the lives of other people on the road.
Texting while driving not only has deadly consequences, but pricey consequences as well. It has effects on not only those that participate in it, but those that don’t as well. Before a person thinks about reading or sending a text while driving, they should think of the fine they could get and the innocent people they could possibly kill. They should think of their own life as well. Once someone takes their focus off of the road to read or send a text, they might not be able to put their full focus back on the road in time to react to what’s in front of them. Once a person’s life is taken because of that, it can’t be regained; it cannot be changed. Texting and driving is distracted driving and distracted driving is unsafe driving.
