TEXTING WHILE DRIVING Katelin Oxendine ENG 1060

Intro  The paper is about texting while driving. It has been debated/argued among many authors. When people text and drive they are unaware of their surroundings. This creates a major distraction. There are many authors that have discussed this issue. In this paper there will be some major ways that can help resolve this issue.

Thesis  The purpose of this essay is to argue the dangers of texting while driving as a means to enforce bans. Second, the need for more awareness about texting while driving. Third law enforcement and laws to curtail texting while driving.

The dangers of texting while driving as a means to enforce bans.  The dangers of texting while driving are serious. It can result in a vehicle wreck. According to Alexis M. Farris, “In one dramatic case, phone records revealed that a commuter train operator in California was texting within seconds of a crash that killed twenty-five people and injured another” ( ).

Bans  It has been brought before Congress; it is just a matter of people wanting the ban. Gardner acknowledged, “In an effort to encourage states to adopt bans, at least four different bills addressing driving while texting were introduced during the 11 th Congress ( )” (6). It’s not a matter of if it was brought before Congress it’s a matter of when it’s going to get enforced.

The Need for More Awareness  There are some other ways to raise awareness about texting while driving. Gardner emphasized, “Property- casualty insurers can help by funding distracted driving television commercials, for example” (8). This would be great, because so many people watch television. Get the information out there.

Continued  Second, get out the car and let someone else drive. Gardner said, Have someone else to text for you when you are driving (8). Someone please tell me what is hard about this? Nothing. It’s a matter of not wanting to text while driving.

Law Enforcement  In the Driving distracted article, it points out that officers need better resources to use to stop texting while driving (25). Officers need the right tools to enforce the law. There needs to be more laws in place about texting while driving.

Laws to Curtail Texting while Driving  Driving distracted says “The DOT is working with interested states and has drafted a sample law to prohibit texting while driving that states can use as a blueprint for their own legislation” (23). This needs to be done to start getting something done about texting while driving. It’s a start to stop texting while driving.

Conclusion  How are all these sources related? They stress the importance of not texting while driving. For example, Sherzans article pointed out there needs to be educational awareness and technological advances on texting while driving. In comparison to, Gardner’s article says the same things. Gardner asked, What are some measures to take to lower texting while driving (8)? It is simply asking what are some other things that can be done to resolve this issue. There were many things that I pointed out about texting while driving. Now all that needs to be done is to implement them.

Works Cited Page  Driving distracted." Consumer Reports Apr : Print.  Farris, Alexis M. "LOL? Texting while driving is no laughing matter: proposing a coordinated response to curb this dangerous activity." Washington University Journal of Law & Policy 36 (2011) : Print.  Gardner, Lisa A. "Wat 2 Do Abt Txt'n & Drv'n (Aka: What To Do About The Problem Of Texting While Driving?). (Cover Story)." CPCU Ejournal (2010) : Print.  Sherzan, Thomas E. "'Talk 2 U L8R' - why cell phones and driving have 'G2G': an analysis of the dangers of cell phone use while driving." Drake Law Review Fall 2010 : Print.