English Final Assignment

Even though driving may seem to be a simple task, it requires full attention and focus. The dynamism of the road and its environment demands that a driver stays focused to avoid veering off the road, hitting oncoming vehicles, being hit by other vehicles, and also hitting other road users like pedestrians, cyclists, and scatters (Heath, 2007). A few seconds of viewing a phone screen may not seem to be much. However, unexpected events such as sudden slowdowns, sudden turns by other motorists especially those in front, a change of traffic lights, and failure in car systems makes the two seconds the difference between life and death. Therefore, rules of the road have to apply. There should be standard regulations about the usage of cell phones by drivers as people usually do not care for the rules unless they are punished or forced it. The regulation of their behaviors should therefore be a priority (Romeo, 2012).

Statistics show that more than 660,000 drivers attempt to use their cell phones while driving every day. In this era of smart phones, the number of drivers using cell phones while driving has increased significantly (Snyder, 2015). Drivers tend to check their emails, make phone calls, type messages or even use their social media accounts- a habit that is not only addictive, but also unsafe especially during driving. The American National Safety Council has reported that at least 1.6 million crashes that occur annually are caused by cell phone use while driving. More than 330,000 annual injuries have resulted from accidents caused by texting while one is every four accidents in America is caused by drivers who are either texting or calling when driving (Snyder, 2015). Researchers argue that compared to drunk driving, an individual who texts while driving is six times more likely to get involved in a car accident. Unlike calling or checking the time on one’s mobile phone, texting is by far the most dangerous activity any driver can undertake. Drivers have understood the risks involved in texting while driving hence the reason most of them are supporting a ban on cell phone use while driving. On this note, approximately 74% of drivers want cell phone use while driving banned while 94% of drivers would prefer if only texting while driving is banned (Snyder, 2015).

Contemporary research on the risks involved in using a cell phone while use while driving has taken center stage in Suarez’s (2009) work. Suarez is renowned as one of the earliest researchers who documented the risks involved in cell phone usage while driving. The main aspect brought about by this study is that the use of cell phones deprives concentration or attention during driving. It results in action lapses while undertaking two activities (driving and texting or calling) that demand paying attention hence causing an imbalance in multitasking. Despite the set rules and regulations about driving precautions, drivers still insist on using their cell phones while driving. . Different nations have different rules in regards to driving. However, one thing is for sure- all nations discourage the use of cell phones while driving. Research done by McCarttet et al. (2006) indicates that most drivers use their cell phones while driving and this bad habit is increasing instead of reducing contrary to popular beliefs.

I, therefore, suggest that full compliance with these laws would require a standardization of the rules and regulations. On standardizing these regulations, the following issues must be looked into; teen’s high rate of cell phone usage, leadership goodwill on supporting these regulations and people’s response towards these laws.

A major problem is the increase rate of cell phone use by teenagers while driving. These young people are most vulnerable to cell phone use while driving because they are normally on their phones for extended periods of time. Their involvement in social lifestyle is significantly higher as opposed to that of the elderly. They therefore, text, call, chat, and browse for long hours even while carrying out more attention seeking activities such as driving, studying, and even worshipping. Strayerand (2004) indicates that the younger generation tends to be more involved in the usage of phones while they are driving and are therefore more distracted as their interest towards socializing online increases. Their attention towards using their cell phones increases as opposed to driving hence the reason they get involved in more car accidents.

Another problem that results in increased cell phone use while driving is that there is reduced leadership goodwill that will support these regulations. Standardizing these laws will mean that all states and cities will be operating under this umbrella. The regulations on usage of cell phones while driving will apply equally to all the stakeholders involved. When every state agrees that they are party to the standardized regulations and no efforts are seen by them implementing and putting these regulations into force, then the standardization aspect will just be a shadow of itself. Richtel and Matt (2015) have indicated a similar situation where promotion of car phones in top gear is irrespective of the risks associated with such a development. Standardization of regulations does not help a few or some stakeholders but rather all stakeholders involved. The individuals who can ensure that the regulations come into play are the leaders of these states. This is because they are also the lawmakers of these states. By accepting to these regulations, it indicates that the leadership has made the laws on cell phone usage and driving. If they do not implement these laws, then the whole process of standardization would not be complete.

The last issue involved in this case is the people’s response towards these laws. People are slow while responding to change. When they are forced to change, they counter this action with resistance and non-adherence to the new systems introduced. There are the individuals whom these regulations will affect, and these are the drivers, in their different capacities. When they show no commitment to these processes, then we know for sure that implementing the regulations will be almost impossible. It is very difficult to tell when one is using a phone while inside the vehicle. Most drivers will decide to dodge the law by switching to hands-free phones and still use the cell phones while driving (McCartt et al., 2006).

Recommendations

In an effort to reduce the number of distraction-related crashes, it is important that drivers are advised against texting or calling while driving. This is important because approximately 48% of drivers have admitted that they answer their cell phones while driving while 24% of drivers have admitted that they get tempted to make phone calls while driving (Snyder, 2015). Texting or calling should be discouraged especially among teenagers who have been found to be at a higher risk of getting involved in an accident. Parents should be advised to insist that cell phone use while driving is wrong when their children are driving.

On the other hand, stricter policies should be developed and adopted to curb cell phone use while driving. This could include introducing fines and penalties to drivers caught on their cell phones while driving and subjecting teenagers who are caught using their cell phones while driving to Defensive Driving Safety Training where they will be taught about distractive driving. On this note, Defensive Driving Safety Training is a program that ensures that drivers are safer on the road by equipping them with appropriate advice on how to reduce accident risks while driving. It is high time that drivers made better decisions on the road by avoiding using their cell phones while driving.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is clear that America must think of the safety of all the motorists and pedestrians, which should be the top priority and regulations should be standardized regarding the usage of cell phones while operating a vehicle. The issues that could hinder this process can be solved by ensuring that the entire country is involved effectively. A mere acceptance by each state that they support the idea of standardizing the regulations and joining the league is not enough. The laws must be the same, and the punishments must be strong enough to tempt the users to park their phones while driving. They should enforce these regulations and always be seen to doing so. The youthful generation should be made aware of the impacts of using cell phones while driving so that they see the logical reasons behind enforcement of such laws. They should also becounseled on how to manage their social lifestyle so that it does not interfere with the other aspects of their lives. Lastly, all stakeholders should be involved in the whole process of standardizing these laws to attain maximum commitment on their implementation and enforcement. Involvement of drivers will then ensure a proper transition of change.

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