Should the Use of Cell Phones Be Legal While Driving
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- Category: Politics: Philosophy
- Date Submitted: 09/14/2010 10:19 AM
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Katherine A. Van Liew
07/08/2010
UNV-103 University Success 31-May-2010 (O127)
Karen Guthrie
Should the Use of Cell Phones Be Illegal When Driving?
The state of Georgia just implemented a new law making it punishable by a fine of $150 and one point against your driver’s license should you get caught driving and texting. I believe that this is one step in the right direction; however, my opinion is that we should take this one step further and make it punishable by law to use a cell phone in any capacity while driving. The use of cell phones (in any way; talking or texting) has been outlawed for motorists in only about six US states so far.
I must admit that I have been guilty of driving and texting and also driving without a hands-free set-up for my cell phone. I have been driving for 34 years and have never received a citation in any shape or form and yet, I have come close to running off the road, pulling into the next lane and causing an accident just because I looked down for a second to text or make a phone call. I know that I have been fortunate, indeed, thus far and realize that if I can see that there is a problem for me, then there is the definite likelihood that it could be a problem for others, too.
Studies have shown that people under the influence of alcohol are safer that people who are texting and driving!
“In 2008, at any given moment, over 800,000 Americans were texting, making calls, or using a handheld cell phone while driving during the daytime. With distracted driving killing nearly 6,000 Americans in the same year, it's no mystery that cell phone use is risky for drivers. Talking on a cell phone while driving can make a young driver's reaction time as slow as that of a 70-year-old.[1]
In 2002, the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis calculated that 2,600 people die each year as a result of using cell phones while driving. They estimated that another 330,000 are injured. These numbers, no doubt...
07/08/2010
UNV-103 University Success 31-May-2010 (O127)
Karen Guthrie
Should the Use of Cell Phones Be Illegal When Driving?
The state of Georgia just implemented a new law making it punishable by a fine of $150 and one point against your driver’s license should you get caught driving and texting. I believe that this is one step in the right direction; however, my opinion is that we should take this one step further and make it punishable by law to use a cell phone in any capacity while driving. The use of cell phones (in any way; talking or texting) has been outlawed for motorists in only about six US states so far.
I must admit that I have been guilty of driving and texting and also driving without a hands-free set-up for my cell phone. I have been driving for 34 years and have never received a citation in any shape or form and yet, I have come close to running off the road, pulling into the next lane and causing an accident just because I looked down for a second to text or make a phone call. I know that I have been fortunate, indeed, thus far and realize that if I can see that there is a problem for me, then there is the definite likelihood that it could be a problem for others, too.
Studies have shown that people under the influence of alcohol are safer that people who are texting and driving!
“In 2008, at any given moment, over 800,000 Americans were texting, making calls, or using a handheld cell phone while driving during the daytime. With distracted driving killing nearly 6,000 Americans in the same year, it's no mystery that cell phone use is risky for drivers. Talking on a cell phone while driving can make a young driver's reaction time as slow as that of a 70-year-old.[1]
In 2002, the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis calculated that 2,600 people die each year as a result of using cell phones while driving. They estimated that another 330,000 are injured. These numbers, no doubt...