Should texting while driving be illegal in all states?
Is 1 text worth a life?
Texting and driving is a horrifying way to get an injury or death and I could go on and on about this topic. The United States has had WAY too many car accidents caused by texting and driving, it’s ridiculous. The bottom line is that there is absolutely NO point in texting and driving and they need to make texting and driving illegal! People are so crazy these days, the drivers need to have all eyes on the road and around them and texting while driving defiantly does not help. These are the politics opinions on the question “Should texting and driving be illegal in all states? 91% of the member voted yes and 9% of the members voted no. 23% of automobile crashes were related to cell phones. If you text while you drive, you will be distracted for a minimum of 5 seconds. Driving at 55mph, you’ll traverse a football field in that time. 1 in 5 drivers of all ages admit to usage of the internet while driving. 1 in 2 kids have been in a car where the diver was texting multiple times. More than 3 in 4 young adults were confident that they could text while driving. Half of young adult drivers think it’s easy to text while driving. Young adults and teens who text and drive spend 10% of their time out of their lane. About 35,000 American teens died in automobile crashes during the last five years, 6,000 a year, 18 a day. Once they make this illegal our world will be a much safer place.
Posted by: AnonymousTexting while driving should be illegal.
1) It causes many accidents.
2) Texting while driving can be fatal.
3) You give your full attention to texting someone instead of driving somewhere.
4) Studies show that texting causes a lot of the accidents that you see on the road.
5)Taking your eyes off the road to look at a text message causes many accidents.Posted by: AnonymousWhile driving, any activity that could cause harm to an innocent bystander should be made illegal.
Texting is distracting. Even when a person is not driving, they will stop whatever else it is they are doing in order to send or read a text message. We've all seen it happen. Now imagine that person behind the wheel of a car. Everything else leaves their mind for a moment, including the fact that they are driving. It's not safe. And not only is it not safe for those in the car with the person texting, it's unsafe for anyone else who happens to be on the road.
Posted by: TownNoamYes it should
Because it causes death and most of them are teens and the parents have to have so much sorrow and it's heartbreaking. I think it should be illegal because it would lead to fewer car wrecks and fewer deaths. What's terrible is that it is the teens or drivers fault that they got into the wreck because the were the ones texting or talking.
Posted by: AnonymousOne second could change everything.
While you are texting that one person back, while you are on the road, you are leaving the road in front of you unattended while you are typing that one sentence. If you add up those 5 seconds for each text message you are traveling a full football field without looking at where you are going.
Posted by: AnonymousDoing anything that takes your mind and eyes off of the road should be illegal while driving and that includes most definitely texting.
Taking your eyes off of the road for even a second or two while you are searching for little tiny numbers and letters on a key pad is absolutely crazy. Wrecks happen in fractions of seconds.
Posted by: R4v4g3rPavIHelp save lives
Waiting a few minutes to give a text can save a few years of mourning. If anyone is that selfish and careless than they shouldn't even get a chance to give a text. Plus, some states are making texting while driving illegal anyways. So just put down the phone and drive.
Posted by: Anonymous1 word 1 life
It should be illegal to text while driving because if someone looses their life just by not paying attention, it would be a hard loss. You might not understand but it can ruin a families life for ever.i f you know anyone that has passed away you know how it feels.i haven't but I have heard a lot about it ,it's sad that they are missing a member of their family.if so many people have died just by texting a word and that's not bad then nothing is.its a humans life ,not an animal.so i say that texting while driving should be illegal .
Posted by: Anonymous11 percent of drivers under 20 are involved in fatal crashes due to texting.
Many suffer from leg injuries or body injuries. A brain injury can cause memory loss and you can become a person with very special needs. When an accident injures the spinal cord, victims may have serious complications with regard to their nerves as well as feeling and function of their extremities. Injuries to the spinal cord vary between individuals, but the damage has the potential to be devastating to victims’ normal way of life. I know this is something you would not want to happen to you.
Posted by: AnonymousYou are missing the point
Texting while driving is dangerous, that is a no-brainer. The question we are asking is not the correct question. The real question is, "How will texting while driving be enforced?" It's quite clear that it will never be "FULLY," enforced because it is way too easy to get away with. Even the new idea of police checking your phone records for times you used it is flawed.
Posted by: AnonymousTexting and driving should be illegal.
Texting should be driving should be illegal because you are risking people's lives, plus you are risking your own. Is a text message really that more important than your life? People, really think about this. Does it really matter that much ? That one message can wait, believe me! THINK!!!
Posted by: AnonymousI support the opinion to make it illegal to text while driving.
While driving, one should be attentive and have focus on the road and control of the vehicle. Any activity, such as using a phone or texting distracts the driver's attention, putting himself/herself in danger. Texting is even more dangerous as it involves both eye and hand.
Posted by: SaroM0vi3Losing innocent lives
When you text and drive your not only hurting yourself but you hurting other people in your life. I'm sure you don't want you go to your son. Daughter's funeral because of a text. Or go to your family members funeral because someone was texting and driving and ended of killing them. No text is that important it can wait.
Posted by: AnonymousI believe texting while driving should be illegal in all states, because it is extremely dangerous.
Texting while driving has shown to be very similar to driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Studies have repeatedly shown that when people text at the same time that they are driving, they are more likely to be in accidents that can cause harm to either themselves or others.
Posted by: WaryMackOf course it should
Kids lives are getting taken away because they feel that it is so necessary to say hi to their friends. Texting can wait. They should absolutely focus on the road and stop worrying about what their friend said. There is no reason that precious lives should be destroyed all because that person can't wait until they get out of the car to say what is "OH SO IMPORTANT!!"
Posted by: AnonymousJust Cause I Said So!!
It causes too many deaths and is a hazard to anyone on the road. People make texting their main focus without realizing it. Your brain does not have the mastered level of focus needed to multi-task when texting and driving. You are more likely to get into a car accident compared to if you aren't. Don't be that person to take an innocent life. IT CAN WAIT!!
Posted by: AnonymousI believe texting while driving should be illegal, because of it's severe, tangible consequences on the road.
Cars are giant rolling death machines, at the best of times. Since we've grown up with them, we tend to not respect their raw power and ability to destroy. We've become such distracted drivers over the last 20 years that the addition of texting doesn't seem out of place to some people, even when operating such a powerful piece of machinery. It is for this reason that laws must be clear and enforced. People who text and drive are putting everyone around them in imminent danger of severe injury and death, and should, for their own good, be made to understand that what they are doing is unacceptable to society.
Posted by: DrearyNevilleTexting while driving is an unacceptable distraction and should be illegal in all states.
Texting while driving should be illegal in all states because the risk of accidents from distracted drivers is unacceptable. Texting forces drivers to divert their attention from the road. In just a few seconds a car can travel over 50 feet and hit someone or something. This risk is unacceptable.
Posted by: 54mP5KryPtoI agree with banning texting while driving in all states, because I believe a lot of deaths could be prevented.
People have a tendency to get too involved with reading, or writing a text message, that they could forget to keep their eyes on the road. It only takes a swerve to cause a bad accident. And, if you are not watching the road, how can you make sure you are on your side of the road, or there isn't a vehicle pulling out in front of you? Even at a stop sign, you may be holding up traffic. The best option is to pull of the road to text, or turn your phone completely off.
Posted by: IncredibleDenis39It can wait.
Drivers who use phones and other hand-held devices are 4x more likely to get into serious crashes, ones that are enough to injure themselves.
IT CAN WAIT, There are so many people who could have had a number of years adoring their family and life, and they got shortened of life just because of possibly a meaningless message. Maybe it's worth it for you, but on the road it's not just about you, it's about you and other drivers!
This is one fatal mistake we can avoid, if you badly need to read the message, drive-in somewhere. Get someone else to read it to you, ANYTHING . Focus on the road. <3 May all of you live long lives.Posted by: AnonymousWhy is this only illegal for teens?
Have you ever thought about that only teens can get pulled over for using their cell phones but adults can only get pulled over if they are committing another offense. This really upsets me because whether it be an adult or a teen behind the wheel it still causes the same outcome. I could easily be hurt by an adult texting and driving just as much as a teen. Even though adults have more experience driving it doesn't mean they are "wreck free".
Posted by: AnonymousStates should pass laws against sending text messages while driving
If the states pass laws against sending text messages while driving, there would be a major change in the amount of car accidents per year and fewer deaths. Many lives of teenagers and adults could be saved if there are laws against texting while driving. I wouldn't say the use of cell phones should be illegal in all states, but I suggest they make a law against sending text messages while driving because in case of emergencies, you could use your phone to call for help.
Posted by: Anonymousit should be illegal to text while driving.
• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2010 driver distraction was the cause of 18 percent of all fatal crashes – with 3,092 people killed – and crashes resulting in an injury – with 416,000 people wounded.
• Forty percent of all American teens say they have been in a car when the driver used a cell phone in a way that put people in danger, according to a Pew survey.
• The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that text messaging creates a crash risk 23 times worse than driving while not distracted.
• Eleven percent of drivers aged 18 to 20 who were involved in an automobile accident and survived admitted they were sending or receiving texts when they crashed.
• In 2011, 3,331 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver, compared to 3,267 in 2010. An additional, 387,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver, compared to 416,000 injured in 2010.
• 18% of injury crashes in 2010 were reported as distraction-affected crashes.
• In the month of June 2011, more than 196 billion text messages were sent or received in the US, up nearly 50% from June 2009. (CTIA)
• 11% of all drivers under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted.
• 40% of all American teens say they have been in a car when the driver used a cell phone in a way that put people in danger. (Pew)
• Drivers who use hand-held devices are 4 times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. (Monash University)
• Text messaging creates a crash risk 23 times worse than driving while not distracted. (VTTI)
• Sending or receiving a text takes a driver's eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent-at 55 mph-of driving the length of an entire football field, blind. (VTTI)
• Headset cell phone use is not substantially safer than hand-held use. (VTTI)
• Driving while using a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37%. (Carnegie Mellon)Posted by: AnonymousIt kills people
I have friends who have died from texting while driving. Many people don't realize who dangerous texting and driving really is. It takes your eyes off the road five seconds at a time. It takes the lives of 11 teenagers every single day. It causes more accidents than drinking and driving.
Posted by: AnonymousAll the facts support yes
23% of automobile crashes were related to cell phones.
If you text while you drive, you will be distracted for a minimum of 5 seconds. Driving at 55mph, you’ll traverse a football field in that time. 1 in 5 drivers of all ages admit to usage of the internet while driving. 1 in 2 kids have been in a car where the diver was texting multiple times. More than 3 in 4 young adults were confident that they could text while driving. Half of young adult drivers think it’s easy to text while driving. Young adults and teens who text and drive spend 10% of their time out of their lane. About 35,000 American teens died in automobile crashes during the last five years. 6,000 a year. 18 a day.Posted by: FoxDeathits very dangerous
Texting while driving is just as bad as drunk driving, except in a higher risk. And not only are you putting your life and the lives of your friends, family, or anyone your with in the car in danger, you are also putting the lives of the people on the road in danger.
Posted by: AnonymousTexting while driving should be banned in all states.
Speaking on a cell phone is already illegal in many states. There are documented cases of people causing accidents, some fatal, while talking on a cell phone. Texting while driving is even more dangerous. It involves using one's hands on the device and one's eyes on the device to make sure that he or she is tying correctly. This means more attention given to the device and less to the road. More accidents await unless texting while driving is banned.
Posted by: balam49Texting takes longer than any other distraction.
Texting doesn't take 'just a second' and requires two hands. So does your steering wheel.
I don't think it's a good idea to have any distractions while driving at all. No putting on makeup, screwing with your iPod, or texting. It's incredibly dangerous and just because you don't care how you act in a car, it doesn't mean everyone else on the road doesn't. It takes one text to ruin a life, or several. Just because you don't care... Can you really live with the guilt of hurting someone else?Posted by: AnonymousThe use of cell phones and texting should be made illegal in all fifty states.
Driving is a dangerous act in itself, which is why we have age requirements and driver’s education courses to meet and pass before we are allowed to drive. If you text while you drive you greatly increase your chances of crashing into another car, driving off the road injuring yourself and any other passengers, or hitting a pedestrian. Taking your eyes off the road for even a split second can cause an accident.
Posted by: AnonymousTexting while driving is dangerous and should be outlawed.
The record of accidents, some lethal, which have been caused by a car driver being distracted by trying to text while in motion shows that it is just too dangerous to drive while texting. The driver is watching the screen in her or his hand rather than the road, and this means reaction time is lengthened. If something goes wrong, in a car a split second delay is enough to cause a fatality. As has already happened in some locales, the possibility of being arrested should become a motivation not to text and drive at the same time. Yes, it should be illegal.
Posted by: R3yGoobIeEyes foward please
Its so dangerous for people to text and drive. People get in accidents all the time due to texting and driving. It may not hurt you, but it can effect the people you hit. Texting and driving can change many lives and not in a good way. In my opinion it wouldnt hurt to ban it.
Posted by: AnonymousTexting takes time and distracts people.
It takes about thirteen seconds to write and send a text. You can travel a decent distance in 13 seconds while you're in a motor vehicle. Driving is dangers in itself, but adding a severe distraction, such as texting, you will probably not be able to react to a stoplight or stop sign in a safe manner. On top of that, texting while driving will inhibit your efforts of staying on the right side of the road and keeping a safe distance between you and other cars.
Posted by: AnonymousSome people are ignorant.
A lot of times it takes a law to be implemented to make people think and realize the dangers of their behavior. For those who are concerned about privacy and police checking their messages, that shouldn't even be an issue. There are other ways to check to see if you have been texting, besides being seen as you are driving. They could also check phone records and check to see if you were texting at the time you were pulled over. Besides, losing someones privacy is not as big as losing someones life.
Posted by: AnonymousPeople can DIE
Many people can die from it if it isn't illegal you are killing many many many people you can make a change. Stand up and save some lives make a law a change help people save lives. Make a change please help save your life and others lives help save people
Posted by: AnonymousTexting while driving should be illegal in the United States.
Studies have shown that drivers talking on a cell phone are as impaired as drivers who are intoxicated. Unlike texting, talking on the phone doesn't require the driver to look down or to read anything while driving. I believe that texting while driving is extremely dangerous to both the driver and those on the road with them. Additionally, those who text tend to be younger drivers with less experience. A law against texting while driving would most definitely save lives.
Posted by: SpoiledKellyYes, because texting while driving is very dangerous.
If the government bans holding a cell phone while driving, there is no reason the government shouldn't ban texting while driving. In my opinion, texting is even more dangerous than talking by holding a cell phone, because one has to take his/her eyes off the road, and at least one hand off the steering wheel, when texting.
Posted by: FeIBuddyI think texting while driving should be illegal. It takes your eyes off the road for way too long. It only takes a nano second for an accident to happen.
There have been way too many deaths in the last few years for this not to be illegal. Their are parents who will never get to see their kids graduate because they decided texting their friends was more important than driving safely.
Posted by: etchedgrphxWould you want to text while you drive? OK. Now let me ask you another question. Would you want to be dead? That's your choice.
What you just read shocked you, but yet you think, I don't want to be dead. I want to be alive, healthy, and grow up knowing that I'm safe. Well, I'll let you in on a little secret. The key to achieving all those wondrous things, is to stop texting while driving. That's all you need to do, and you'll be safe on the road. So, shape up, or ship out. Thanks for reading.
Posted by: AnonymousTexting can kill loved ones.
Texting and driving, is very dangerous, I have lost friends because someone else was stupid enough to text and drive. People say it only takes a second to look down at a text, but that one second can cause an accident. Telling a family that they just lost their loved one, or telling a little girl or boy who's mother or father died because you looked down for a second could be very heartbreaking and difficult. Texting and driving should be illegal, end of story.
Posted by: taytay1409Texting is simply too dangerous to be allowed while driving.
There are already so many causes of accidents, such as road conditions and
weather, which are unavoidable, we do not need to add another way for people to kill others or themselves. Especially considering the fact that many who text are young people who already represent the greatest number of fatalities in vehicular accidents. This really should be outlawed.Posted by: MarsBIueYour phone or your life?
Texting and driving can be very dangerous, considering the fact that you might be taking yours, or someone else's life. Is it really that important? One word, can mean one life. Texting and driving is very risky. It's against the law in about 20 or more states. Think about it, you might be texting just to kill somebody. You never know? Texting and driving is a HUGE distraction on the road. You're supposed to be paying attention to the road, not your device. Next time you think about texting and driving, think about the life of an innocent person you might be taking.
Posted by: courtney_haveyTexting while driving should be illegal, as it puts all drivers' lives at risk, as the one who is texting is not paying full attention to the road.
Texting while driving is irresponsible and extremely dangerous, not only to the driver texting, but to everyone close by. It only takes a second for a disaster to occur on the highways, and texting takes the driver's attention off the road for more than a second.
Posted by: EueChosenIT IS DANGEROUS!
Texting while driving distracting. A split second of distraction can lead to an accident, which could also mean death. When you are texting while driving, you are also risking the life of other poeple. When you crash, you hurt the people that you crash into, and if someone is in the car with you, they will get hurt too. Plus, texting while driving affects your control of the car. When you text, you take a hand off the wheel and lack the ability to control the car properly. And, texting while driving is as dangerous as drunk driving. I know you probably don't believe this, but according to the national highway traffic safety administration, aka the nhtsa, it's very true!
Posted by: AnonymousText while driving should totally be illegal in all sates.
Driving is a dangerous act in itself, which is why we have age requirements and driver’s education courses to meet and pass before we are allowed to drive. If you text while you drive you greatly increase your chances of crashing into another car, driving off the road injuring yourself and any other passengers, or hitting a pedestrian. Taking your eyes off the road for even a split second can cause an accident.
Posted by: Anonymous
Dangerous? Yes. Illegal? No.
I'm torn on this issue. I am strongly opposed to people texting while driving. I think it is irresponsible and am certain that 99% of the time it is not necessary (checking texts or facebook or whatever can wait but people are so impulsive). It needlessly endangers other drivers and there should be stiff penalties for accidents caused while texting.
However, when the question is whether it should be illegal or not, then I'd like to stop and think about this seriously for a moment. How would this be enforced? Would it really work? Do people really not understand the dangers unless there is a law? I think that most people realize there is a danger but believe that it will never happen to them. I am more afraid of how such a law would be enforced (i.E., going through your texts if you get pulled over for speeding). This is something that people should think about and stop on their own. Unfortunately I don't that happening unless public outcry results in shaming the person every time he's seen doing it. I honestly don't have a good solution, but I think we should stop and think seriously about it before making it a criminal act.Posted by: AnonymousIt's better to loose a minute in your life than to loose your life in a minute.
Texting and driving can cause deaths and injuries as well as drinking and driving. People argue about DUIs and the problems they bring but they don't realize that texting and driving has similar disstractions with the same effects and consequences as drinking and driving. There are children playing, poeple running to stay in shape, and people just walking to enjoy their day and that day can be ruined by a death or an injury caused by a person that was distracted by their cellular device. People loose their concentration over a text messege.
Posted by: AnonymousI text while driving, safely.
When considering the core issue of Text Messaging while driving, we have to focus a bit less on ourselves for one point, and intensely for the next.
First off, texting is a simple slight of hand, but for so many people, it's a crutch that hinders our driving and safety...but why is this? It is true, that cell phone companies and service providers have only made it more difficult to text safely, instead of taking up a safe stance by providing Talk to Text services as a default function or all phones. Yes, that's right. We can't merely blame it all on those who use the drug, but in fact, those who readily provide it too.
Secondly, one should be aware of what he or she is doing, and learn his of her phone to better become capable at the things that they choose to do while operating a vehicle, to even merely walking about. What do I mean by that? I specifically purchased a non-touchscreen phone that has a digit key pad on the front. Sure, it opens up to a full key board, but it's seldom (if ever) used. So I spent the time to memorize the T9-Word scheme, so I never have to look at my screen. "What about reading the texts?", you ask? The Hash Tag symbol, when pressed, provides a poor (but understandable) computer voice that reads the message to me. Do all phones have that option? I've found that very many do, but we should really be learning about the functions of our phones before having at it.
My point is clear. Texting while Driving CAN be SAFE, if taught to be so. We can compare it to Sex. Should we blindly let our children have sex? OR Should we teach our children on how to safely have sex and of the dangers of not doing so? Same argument. Simply put, if it was taught that Texting While Driving could be done so Safely, then I really would only expect that those who do, would do so in a conscious manner, and it would SAVE LIVES.
If you have any direct comments, feel free to message me directly at: Ke.Diagnostics@gmail.comPosted by: AnonymousNo, no, no, because kids need to be able to reach their parents.
It should not be illegal because if you have a child at home with a phone, and if something went wrong then they would not be able to get hold of their parents if they are driving. If someone needs to pull over to answer it and they can't, then they wont be able to know what is wrong and their child may die!
Posted by: AnonymousWhats the differance?
It takes longer to find a good radio station and turn on the AC then reading a text (which takes what? A second?
Posted by: AnonymousNo, It is their choice.
Texting is one of many distraction. Eating, putting on makeup, more. Getting rid of it would be discriminatory. It is their choice to answer that text: Which takes on average, less time then to find directions on a GPS. Just because It could kill doesn't mean we should outlaw it. Otherwise, we would outlaw cars, bathtubs, construction equipment and more. The fact is, the young drivers that this affects can't vote against it. It's just not reasonable to outlaw something only on death count.
Posted by: TheAntidoterIt shouldnt be illegal its a useless law in reality.
It shouldn't not become illegal to text and drive, there is no way of enforcing this law! Im a college student and have seen a whole lot of people text and drive every day. On average i can be %100 sure that i see at least around 10 different adults text and drive, and that is not including police. On average i see about 3-5 police text and drive every two days. Personally i am totally against texting and driving but it doesn't mean it should be illegal. Just use your common sense and don't do it you know it has a high risk rate. There would be no way of enforcing this law because we would still do it. This law would just be the beginning of the violation of our rights. This law would give the police the right to search your phone check your messages and invade your privacy, many people joke around about many things, but if one of the cops ever see's a message were you make fun of the police of something even if your just kidding they would find a way to press charges against you.
Posted by: AnonymousNo, no more government control.
People will only hold the phone lower and look down at a sharper angle, in effect seeing NOTHING straight ahead.
Dogs ride on drivers laps, as do children, women put on makeup, hair is brushed/combed, radios are adjusted, eating is done, GPS devices are looked at, and pot is smoked. Why pick on texting?Posted by: Anonymous