NO TEXTING ON YOUR CELL PHONE WHILE DRIVING - Essay Example

Such interactions bear consequential instances if they are not used in a responsible manner. Texting messages while driving has been an on-going debate since number of years. The school of thought that disagrees with texting messages while driving consider it so severe that they want the action to be given the status of a crime while others take don’t give much importance to the issue. In the light of the adverse effects of texting while driving, it should be banned to promote road safety for the people. 2. Driving While Texting Driving is a task that requires utmost attention and concentration of the driver.

Quick reflexes are often needed to keep safe from any accident whereas texting messages causes the occupation of one’s hand and mind. Caird, Scialfa, Ho and Smiley (2005) stated that texting messages while driving impairs the reflexes and affects the reaction time of the individual thereby making it difficult to regain control of the vehicle if an unforeseen incident arises. Foundation for Traffic Safety (2009) conducted a survey that concluded that 9 out of 10 drivers consider texting messages as a danger to themselves and others on the road.

It is often argued that the activity of text messaging has been presumed to be dangerous at an unrealistic level since there are numerous other activities that cause distraction and makes the driver lose focus, for example loud music, attractive billboards and advertisements etc. The argument stands partially valid since the mentioned factors also prove to be a hindrance for a driver. However, none of these mentioned factors compel the drivers to use his hands, alongside looking at the small screen to read the text.

The fear of being ceased by the traffic police often makes the driver keep the phone lower that requires him to bend his head down (off the road) to read the message. Needless to say, that getting one’s head off the road even for a few seconds can result in life altering situations. Agency Group (2011) reported that around 5,500 people lost their lives and 0.5 million got severely injured in 2009 in different accidents due to distracted individuals driving cars. Magid (2009) provided useful information about the level of distractedness that becomes apparent from driving while text messaging; such drivers are recorded to depart from their lanes 10 times more than a regular driver.

The advocators argue that a skilled driver can never be affected with such distractions and is able to possess control of the car in all situations even if he is texting. Firstly, some drivers might be skilled enough to handle multitasking while driving but their texting gives a wrong message to the youngsters who are more active in this activity. Magid (2009) quoted some other research findings; 46 % of the teenagers accept the fact that they text while driving. Secondly, a skilled driver might have full control of the car but he cannot judge the level of control that is possessed by some other driver (who might be texting) on the road that might cause turbulence on the road for everyone else.

Road safety can only be achieved if all the drivers drive their cars safely, rather than just a few. 3. Conclusion Texting while driving is a dangerous activity that can prove to have consequential factors for others, as well as oneself. The process of texting while driving reduces the reaction time of an individual and affects the individual to make decisions instantly. The advocators of