Sociology

Texting While Driving SOC 100 November 15, 2010 Christa Raines Texting while driving has within the last few years become a large social issue. Although people have acknowledged many dangers of texting while driving their response to the problem is pure ignorance. Studies have shown that more than 46 % of driver’s ages 16 – 27 admit to texting while driving. Further studies have shown that only 14 % of those ages 28 – 44 well admit to doing it. Teenagers are said to be the most common individuals to text while they are driving and are labeled at a much higher risk compared to any other age group. I will discuss this issue through the lens of sociology and look into the discussion on the ban of texting while driving, death rate, and state laws. Many states in the United States have placed bans on the problem. The senate introduced a bill in July 2009 that would require all states to impose a ban on texting while driving; currently 31 states have passed such a ban. Most recently Massachusetts joined this group of states to have passed such bans. Texting while driving is a very distractive human behavior that needs to stop. Unfortunately, there have been many studies done that state texting while driving bans may not work and hurt as people well be more distracted trying to conceal their texting. The death rate continues to go up each year. Many drivers out there continue to believe that they are capable of multi-tasking while they are driving. Studies have shown that at least 1.6 million accidents are caused each year by cell phone texting and cell phone talking. Cell phone distraction causes nearly 25 % of all accidents. Texting while driving is about six times more likely to cause an accident than driving while intoxicated. Of all cell phone related tasks including talking, dialing, and reaching for the phone- texting while driving is the most dangerous. The scientific literature on the dangers of driving while sending a text message from a mobile phone, or driving while texting is limited. A simulation study was completed at the Monash University Accident Research Centre and provided strong evidence that retrieving and in particular, sending text messages has a detrimental effect on a number of safety-critical driving measures. Specifically, negative effects were seen in detecting and responding correctly to road signs, detecting hazards, time spent with eyes off the road, and (only for sending text messages) lateral position. Mean speed, speed variability, lateral position when receiving text messages and following distance showed no difference. A separate, yet unreleased simulation study at the University of Utah found a six fold increase in distraction-related accidents when texting. To help combat this issue some states have implemented laws to help prevent this issue. Alaska’s law states that it is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. In the state of Utah anti texting laws state that drivers who text and cause injury or death are punishable by up to 15 years in jail and a $10,000 fine. Rhode Island texting law prohibits drivers from sending, writing or reading a text message while operating a vehicle. A first offense carries a $85 fine, second offense $100, and third and all other subsequent offenses $125. Although some states have laws currently in place to help prevent this issue there has been research completed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety that says the bans may be responsible for a slight increase in distracted driving crashes. The finding is based on the institute’s comparisons of claims in four states – California, Washington, Minnesota, and Louisiana before and after texting bans took effect compared with patterns of claims in other nearby states. Although issues with texting while driving are on the rise, it will take a large amount of persuading for different age groups to realize the seriousness of it. Society is very attached to this new technology. Distracted driving is an epidemic that is not going away anytime soon. Unfortunately it ends up claiming lives and destroying families. It is a bad habit and not worth it. References http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501465_162-20017855-501465.html http://www.edgarsnyder.com/car-accident/cell-phone/statistics.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texting_while_driving