A recent study found that 80% of all automobile accidents and 65% of near-accidents involved some form of inattention. The most common form of inattention was cell phone use. On average, a person dies every 12 minutes in this country due to automobile accidents where a cell phone conversation was involved. This roadway danger will only continue to rise unless there are meaningful and effective policies to deter their use while behind the wheel. As of today, there are currently zero states in the United States that ban all types of cell phone use while driving , meaning a driver can use their cell phone in some form. However, every type of cell phone use is becoming problematic when a cell phone user chooses to engage in a conversation, text, surf the web, check their email, and so much more while operating a motor vehicle. As of May 2015, 91 percent of American adults own some type of a cell phone (Brenner, 2013). Coupled with the fact that 95 percent of American households own a car and 85 percent of Americans commute to work by car Monday through Friday, it is no wonder that government and legislative bodies are focusing on enacting laws that aim to restrict cell phone use while driving in an effort to improve roadway safety (Chase, …show more content…
When a person is under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, he/she loses all balance, hand/eye coordination, and motor skills, so they therefore lose concentration. Driving, while talking on a cell phone or texting, has almost the same effect. Driving a motor vehicle requires a lot of concentration even though many people don’t think about it. Many people don’t really consider the many different things are going through their heads as they are driving on a day-to-day basis. Many advocates of cell phone use while driving believe that talking on a cell phone doesn’t impede their ability in driving and believe that they have full control of themselves behind the wheel. There are a few problems with this theory. One is, as explained earlier, that driving with a cellular device reduces concentration and reaction time. Another problem with this theory is that even if some people do believe that they can multitask and be able to do both at the same time, they would just be taking unnecessary risks in the end. Another solution to this problem could be excessive fines that they would have to pay. If people have to pay more out of their pocket for mistakes that they make on the road, they will definitely think twice before they do it again. Especially today, many people are losing their jobs and don’t have enough to live out good lives. Short term jail time could also be a good punishment. If