Texting and driving is a distraction that causes many accidents nationwide. It is very dangerous and quickly becoming one of the country’s top killers, but many people still choose to do so despite knowing the risks. A recent AAA survey revealed that 95 percent of respondents said that texting and driving was a very serious threat to their personal safety.
Millions of people are involved in distracted driving accidents per year, so why do people still participate in texting and driving? Some may believe that they are skilled enough at texting and driving where they can pay attention to the road without getting into an accident, while others may think that the texting and driving accident statistics will not apply to them. Are the current texting and driving laws working, or should stricter laws exist to prevent more people from doing it?
Texting and Driving Statistics:
- 1,600,000 accidents per year – National Safety Council
- 11 teen deaths EVERY DAY – Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Fatality Facts
- Nearly 25% of ALL car accidents are a result of texting and driving – National Highway Transportation Safety Administration
Texting and Driving also is:
- The same as driving after four beers – National Highway Transportation Safety Administration
- Makes you 23 times more likely to crash – National Highway Transportation Safety Administration
There are 43 states along with D.C., the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and Puerto Rico that ban texting and driving for all drivers. Although texting and driving bans are in effect for most states, texting fines vary wildly across the country. In California, the maximum penalty for a first-time offender is just $20; in Alaska, it will cost you $10,000 and a year in prison.
Well-enforced texting and driving laws may work if stiffer fines were put in place, because most drivers will want to avoid paying hefty fines. But although increasing texting and driving fines may help decrease distracted driving, a cultural change among drivers needs to be accepted in order for texting and driving usage to decrease.
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Source(s):
AAAfoundation.org
TextingandDrivingSafety.com
