should texting while driving be treated like drunken driving

The Hoffmann Law Firm L.L.C. The easiest way to compare 20 real quotes from top brands, Trusted by more than 4 million drivers - 4.9 star reviews, As seen on Fox News, WSJ, Forbes, Fortune Magazine. You already know that youre not supposed to text and drive. During my commute, I literally see so many drivers looking down at their phones. Texting & Driving - For the most part you get a ticket, because it's hard to prove anything else, and if you live in Indiana, you know the texting while driving laws are NEVER enforced. Liberty Mutual Insurance,Teen Driving Study Reveals App and Drive is New Danger Among Teens, New Worry for Parents(2016),available athttps://libertymutualgroup.com/about-lm/news/news-release-archive/articles/app-and-drive. Pick your playlist ahead of time. McDonald uses Apple Auto, and Delgado has a phone mount and a Do Not Disturb app. At times, it can even be enticing. Forty-six states include at least one category for distraction on police crash report forms. 1. Distracted driving has been around for a long time, but. 6. We didnt think that would happen to us. The Results Are In for Round 1 of the 2023 Comment & Win Contest! How The U.S. Supreme Courts Ruling On College Affirmative Action Supreme Court Redefines Undue Hardship when Addressing Religious Telephone and Texting Compliance News: Commission Seeks to Clarify Michigan Legislature Passes Package of Bills Implementing Proposal 2, A Closer Look: India EB-3 Retrogression in Context. 17. I especially like your line We live our lives through trial and error and it is a dangerous way to live. If we just acknowledged the statistics and used some common sense, we could avoid this experimental lifestyle and not put our lives or those of others at risk. A Comparison of the Cell-Phone Driver and the Drunk Driver(2006),available at http://www.psych.utah.edu/AppliedCognitionLab/DrivingAssessment2003.pdf. To me, this stat shows how many potential accidents there could be on any given day. 12. 1. The National Safety Council estimates that more than 20 percent of all traffic crashes in 2011 - more than 1 million accidents &# The University of Utah researchers used a driving simulator and compared study participants who were talking on their cell phones versus those who were legally intoxicated. 1 in 20 drivers use their cell phone while driving which is horribly dangerous! So, what are the dangers of texting drivers vs. drunk drivers? For a first offense, a person may receive up to 6 months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.If the DUI offense resulted in an injury, then the person may either be charged with a misdemeanor or a felony as a wobbler offense. A New York Times/CBS News poll conducted in 2009 showed that nearly all Americans polled believe texting while driving should be illegal, and half believe the punishment should be as harsh as laws for drunken driving. If you require legal or professional advice, kindly contact an attorney or other suitable professional advisor. Each podcast episode runs around 20 minutes, ends with a fun lightning round, and is accompanied by a written transcript and conversation starters. Is it worth risking your freedom? After an hour and a half of writing down boring rules in our notebooks (if you are parking uphill with a curb, point the wheels away from the curb), my driving instructor would play the next episode of a safety film produced by the California Highway Patrol, and it was magic. Your parents have lectured you endlessly about it, you've been taught the horror stories about it in driver's ed class, and you probably live in one of the 49 states where it's illegal for teens to text behind the wheel. We encourage all Tennesseans to set an example for those around you, particularly your children. This might mean that we need to spread more awareness and have stricter laws if making Americans aware of the issue isnt enough. With the explosion of cell phones in the consumer marketplace, texting and driving has emerged as a national health crisis for individual motorists, the public, and the courts. We were good students who knew the rules of the road, and we had been driving for months without an accident. Now that you can see why texting and driving is such a big issue, you can see why stricter laws are needed in order to decrease the frequency of this issue. David L. Strayer et al.,Fatal Distraction? Get a phone mount for your dashboard. As more people are driving, car accident rates are also increasing, so this is a major issue that needs to be addressed quickly. So its not just about the laws, its about making sure theyre enforced. A felony conviction can result in up to 3 years in jail along with a fine of up to $5,000.16. Recently, I was stopped at a red light near the Santa Monica Pier. The Other Side: Treat texting and driving like drunken driving By Kelvin Wade A friend of mine and her child were rear-ended last week by a driver going 60 in a 40 mph zone. STEP 2: Post your reply (in at least 250 words) in the discussion forum. Dr. Delgado says that his study is trying to figure out how can we design around the imperfection of human decision-making. What does that mean and how does it apply to the issue of texting while driving? In some states, alcohol exclusion laws allow insurance companies to deny payment for treatment of injuries sustained by drunk drivers. While the solution of setting ones phone on the side seems viable, it is a natural instinct for people nowadays to pick up and check their phones. Texting while driving, also called texting and driving, is the act of composing, sending, or reading text messages on a mobile phone while operating a motor vehicle.Texting while driving is considered extremely dangerous by many people, including authorities, and in some places has either been outlawed or restricted. Some researchers say texting is more dangerous than talking on the phone because drivers are distracted on multiple levels; manually (holding the phone and pressing buttons), visually (looking at the phone), and cognitively (thinking about other things than driving). California has a typical anti-texting law, which provides for only a $20 first offense. We couldnt get enough of the vivid, greater-than-life depiction of high school. Some of that data is coming from an app developed by TruMotion and being used by Progressive Insurance to capture all kinds of driving information like hard breaking, speed, acceleration and distance traveled. T. Dongara and M. GrabowskiDecember 13, 2019. The maximum penalty for texting while driving is a $100-$200 fine. Should Texting While Driving Be Treated Like Drunken Driving? Still, the states have yet to catch up to the dangers posed by these forms of distracted driving with a majority treating them as minor infractions. In California, a first offense is punishable by a fine of $20, and subsequent convictions are punishable by fines of $50.13. 300 Questions and Images to Inspire Argument Writing The first one is that tomorrow, I am going to a music festival with my friends and a small part of me is afraid, which shouldnt have to be the case. Had I been older and less mobile, pushing a baby stroller, or preoccupied with a cellphone myself (another growing problem), her negligence might have been fatal. If they see their parents driving distracted, they are more likely to do the same thing. The gap between learning and internalizing is how much we believe in the world inside the television screen. No state bans all cell phone use for all drivers. Driving while texting or distracted is dangerous, and here is what you can do to protect yourself. The information will help the researchers figure out how to best use smartphones to help drivers of all ages. Posted January 08, 2021 In Design & Manufacturing Defects , Drunk Driving Accidents 0 The risks of driving these days are much higher than they used to be. However, when you're doing it behind the wheel, there are a litany of other factors at play. And thats not easy. CENTERSFORDISEASECONTROLANDPREVENTION, INJURYPREVENTIONand CONTROL, MOTORVEHICLESAFETY, DISTRACTEDDRIVING, 1 (2016)[hereinafter CDC report]available athttp://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/distracted_driving/. Some states have preemption laws that prohibit local jurisdictions from enacting their own distracted driving bans. More specifically, drivers on their phones. Your response should include a clear stance on the issue with supporting evidence as to why you feel the way you do. Teachers and parents would come on the screen and talk about the bright future the unfortunate victims once had. It is not legal advice and there is no guarantee as to its accuracy or completeness or that it is up-to-date. 78 Texting and Driving Essay Topic Ideas & Examples - IvyPanda The National Law Review is not a law firm nor is www.NatLawReview.com intended to be a referral service for attorneys and/or other professionals. Fast, Easy, and Totally Free! Texting while driving: the new drunk driving - CSMonitor.com The penalties for texting while driving could include any of the following: Is sending that text worth the financial burden? 7. Sending or reading a text message takes your attention away for about five seconds, long enough to cover a football field while driving at 55 mph. There is an ongoing debate about whether or not texting and driving should be illegal in every state and if it should have the same consequences that drinking and driving has. Theres no doubt that weve all heard the phrase, Dont text while driving! numerous times in the past. Some states have banned texting and driving, but now we have to consider whether penalties should be as strict as those for drinking and driving. Call them back as soon as youve reached your destination. For example, smoking, drunken driving and not wearing seat belts are all risky behaviors that have been reduced as people have internalized the message that they are dangerous.. Should Texting While Driving Be Treated Like Drunken Driving? Were creatures of habit, and its easier not to start a bad habit than to get out of one. Texting while driving is like drunk driving. States should review the research and consider bringing parity between their DUI statutes and penalties with their statutes criminalizing texting and driving. European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) Put Forward Common Understanding of Telephone and Texting Compliance News: Third Circuit Affirms $286,000 Fraud New York City Releases New Guidance on Law Regulating Use of Automated Employment Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. FTC Finalizes Updates to Endorsement Guides, Reflecting Increased Nevada Passes Law Prohibiting Insurers from Issuing Burning Limits Insurance & Reinsurance Coverage at Wilson Elser, CDPH Updates Definition of COVID-19 Outbreak. Blurred Lines for Todays Workplace: Employer Liability for Employee Keep Your Paws Off My Positive Arbitrage With the Same Power Comes Energy & Sustainability Washington Update July 2023. Maybe a clue to this gap lies in how drivers education teaches danger. With the addition of a new gadget like this, driving while texting would no longer be a hindrance. By visiting our site, you agree to our privacy policy regarding cookies, tracking statistics, etc. For example, this year a Fulton County, GA, jury awarded $1.5 million to a girl who suffered a skull fracture and other injuries when the car she was in was struck at a red light by a pickup truck whose driver was texting. Subscribe to our News and Updates to stay in the loop and on the road! This generation of drivers has grown up with the cellphone. She lives with her two daughters in Central Pennsylvania. He was in uniform, at the wheel of his patrol car, using a moment stopped in traffic to get his cellphone fix. It's Time to Treat Texting Like Drunk Driving - The National Trial Lawyers To deter dangerous cell phone use, legislatures should treat texting while driving similar to drunk driving. NLR does not answer legal questions nor will we refer you to an attorney or other professional if you request such information from us. , and here is what you can do to protect yourself. I think we can make a big difference if we can solve for it the right way.. For many years, state lawmakers failed to recognize and spread awareness about the risks of texting while driving. Its like you have to come out lucky to have had the ability to reflect and change your ways but everyone doesnt get those chances. Try turning it off while youre in the car. Global Youth Summer 2023 Students Explore the History of Penn & Slavery, Wharton Investment Competition: Tales from the 2023 Teams, Learning Day 2023 Is a Big Hit with Investment Competitors, Tackling Texting While Driving: The Decision to Reach for That Phone Can Be Impulsive. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Therefore, the paradox of safety education is to make the danger seem real and instill fear but not to glamorize risky behavior. This will help you avoid looking down to find or use your phone. The remainder of the states represents a mishmash, ranging between the four with no penalties at all to Alaska with the potential for a serious felony conviction. In 2013, 10 percent of all fatal crashes involved distraction, resulting in the deaths of 3,154 people. Perhaps one issue is that the movies seemed too exaggerated, too un-lifelike. Texting While Driving Deserves the Same Treatment as Drunk Driving or Forty-six states include at least one category for distraction on. A majority of U.S. states have passed laws to keep up with the corresponding increase in texting and driving. 14. If you'd never drive drunk, then you'd NEVER text and drivedriving with a BAC of just 0.01% increases your chances of causing a car crash by 46%, according to a 2014 study. Meanwhile, the array of penalties for drunk driving includes jail, fines up to $500, points on a driver's record, and a mandatory license suspension. adds a whole new danger. But the professors say that the lack of driving experience makes distractions most dangerous for teens. Read more. Texting is not the only distraction for drivers, but its certainly one of the more common: 31 percent of U.S. drivers ages 18 to 64 admitted to sending or reading a text while driving. If you MUST respond, let the passenger help! 1: Make sure a vehicle is stopped or braking before stepping off the curb. Why or why not? In his riveting memoir This Boys Life, Tobias Wolff speaks to the risk of glamorizing harmful behavior. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: Distracted Driving, Take the Pledge to End Distracted Driving, https://medium.com/@martinjsmith/the-cinematic-genius-of-the-red-asphalt-road-splatter-series-5289d382ffa3, https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jan-21-me-wheel21-story.html, Great Leaders Recognize and Value the Power of Emotions. Texting and driving occur much more often and have the same dangerous consequences, so now we have to consider the fact that texting while driving should be seen and treated the same as drinking and driving is. As a teen I see lots of people risking there lives and mine in cars where texting and driving is normal. The Educator's Toolkit is a collection of articles, lesson plans, video glossary terms, hands-on learning exercises and other resources to provide ideas and materials to use with your students, while at the same time helping you discover the various ways the Wharotn Global Youth Program is creating relevant content for your classroom. Important Changes in The Mexican Health System. If not, what can bring about a meaningful cultural shift when millions of drivers are so addicted to their cellphones theyve become oblivious to their own safety, let alone the safety of others? Though texting and driving is banned in most states, the law still typically treats it as a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine. He thereafter moved to San Diego, California where he attended and graduated from California Western School of Law in 1995. One reason, according to safe driving experts: Young people, whove watched their parents and other adults routinely fiddle with various devices as they drive, downplay the risk. Its all up to whether were willing to work together to achieve this goal. Delgado says millennials typically people between 25 and 34 are the most distracted drivers of any age group. How has their music changed? Paramore is back after 5 years. In light of the ever-increasing data linking driver injury and death to this type of distraction, the lack of concrete laws is rather shocking.. Teens are particularly at risk; they are four times more likely than older drivers to get into these accidents. Better Ways for Law Firms to Promote Their Successes on Social Media, Supreme Court Limits Foreign Reach of U.S. Joseph Tikalsky was crossing the street to retrieve his morning paper. The Other Side: Treat texting and driving like drunken driving This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. It is every driver's responsibility to always be careful and attentive, ensuring everyone can safely get from Point A to Point B. The researchers looked at results using the simulator involving 49 adult participants who ranged in age from 22 to 45. We cheat on exams because we havent been caught before and only the bad cheaters get caught. One of my favorite statistics is that 73% of drivers think theyre better than average. Use a Do Not Disturb app, which is automatically activated on many smartphones. Give your students the chance to run a high-growth startup. 1. Texting and driving is especially dangerous because it incorporates all types of driving distractions: When you're engulfed in a texting conversation, it's easy to forget you're sharing the road with other people. How Will AI and Hybrid Work Change Your Job? Mary Fetzer is a professional freelance writer and editor. If you text message people on your phone while driving, you're making a huge mistake. The World War II dramas he watched are hauntingly similar to the scare films of today, always with a somber narrator to remind us that this wasnt make-believe but actual history, that what we were seeing had really happened and could happen again. While Wolff acknowledges that the depiction of the Nazis downfall produced glimpses of humiliation and loss, they only lasted a few minutes. They hope their work leads to the development of more smartphone programs that can nudge drivers into the correct behavior, like apps that automatically switch on to prevent incoming notifications while in the car. 11. Texting While Driving Should Be Illegal - 839 Words - IvyPanda Work with your loved ones on strategies to decrease the chances of texting while driving. So in some situations, device-distracted driving is more dangerous than DUI. Talk to your parents so they understand you will not answer their calls when driving. For over two decades Steven has been litigating a wide range of civil claims.

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should texting while driving be treated like drunken driving